Winery - Nittnaus Hans und Christine
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The Saint Laurent grape is only rarely grown outside of Austria, where it is perceived to have great potential. This version verges on Port-like, with aromas of fruitcake and spice that seem a bit warm and overripe before picking up a citrus tang on the finish. —J.C.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This wine’s crunchy, cassis fruit carries more than a hint of green peppers, but still comes across as smooth and picks up some chocolate complexities on the abbreviated finish. —J.C.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Smells really interesting and unique, with scents of black pepper and cardamom, but doesn’t follow through on the palate, which seems a bit hollow. —J.C.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Barrique aged wine, with toasty flavors, tobacco and blueberry, finished with smooth vanilla and morello cherries. There is an edge of acidity, maybe almost tartness which gives it a very vibrant aftertaste.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
With its pretty girl label, this is not intended to be serious. The Zweigelt is attractive, soft, with good berry flavors. It does finish too soft, indicative of residual sugar, but that’s what happens when a wine is created specially for the U.S. Screwcap.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A firmly tannic wine, solid and concentrated, which shows great spicy Zweigelt varietal flavor, as well as dense black cherries and toast. This is a wine that needs some aging, maybe over 3 years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Hugely dry, tannic wine that is going to need several years aging. But the structure and balance are there, along with dark berry flavors, mixed with a firm, mineral character. This is powerful stuff.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is Hans Nittnaus’s international wine, with Cab Sauvignon and Merlot in the blend along with St. Laurent and Zweigelt. It offers complex flavors, mixing black fruits with smooth toast from barrique aging. There’s a vegetal edge to it, which detracts from the overall impression.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
An open, generous, ripe wine, with fresh red plum fruit flavors, layered with acidity. The barrique aging is still apparent, leaving high toast. Despite the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, this still tastes very Austrian and spicy, the Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch dominating.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is the Nittnaus’ flagship red, a powerful, rounded wine, expressing soft Merlot, along with juicy Zweigelt and St. Laurent. There are delicious black plum, tobacco and spice aromas, while the black fruit flavors are spiked with sage, green herbs and black berries. Barrel aging adds complexity, but does not dominate.
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