2011 GEYERHOF GRUNER VELTLINER 'ROSENSTEIG' - SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!

Over the past 15 or so years, Austria’s Gruner Veltliner has established itself as a variety of genuine quality, capable or producing wines of varying levels of richness and complexity. At its most basic, it is the source of satisfyingly crisp and refreshing wines that don’t ask a lot of the drinker. As one proceeds up the scale, they can display textural and flavour complexity not dissimilar to Chardonnay, but with an exotic Gruner twist of spice. Unlike Chardonnay, it doesn’t necessarily need oak to draw out its best qualities.

Although a small patches of Gruner Veltliner are grown in the north of Italy (and now here in Australia), the hilly terraces of Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal, north of Vienna, are its home.

This particular example, from Kremstal-based producer Geyerhof, is a crisp and steely expression of Gruner Veltliner. It is a wine that could readily be mistaken for Riesling, were it not for the exotic edge of stem ginger and spice. At this level, it displays very good fruit intensity, and is a quality example of Gruner Veltliner for early to mid-term drinking. While it would sit wonderfully alongside a Weiner Schnitzel and boiled new potatoes, it would be equally compatible with lightly spiced Japanese, Vietnamese or Thai cuisine.

2011 GRUNER VELTLINER ‘ROSENSTEIG’
Producer: Geyerhof
Variety: Gruner Veltliner
Vintage: 2011
Region: Kremstal, Austria
ABV: 12.5%
Closure: Screw cap
Retail Price: $35.00
Date tasted: 12 January 2013

Tasting Note: 
Pale silvery green. Bright nose of stem ginger, grapefruit, fennel and aniseed. Dry, medium bodied, zesty grapefruit, lively vibrant acidity. A ‘wake me up’ sort of wine. Very invigorating. Good length. A good example of its type.
Score: 16/20