Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2014

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Peter Moser in Frankfurt

The Falstaff RotweinGuide 2014, a wine guide for Austrian red wine, was released in December 2013 in Vienna, Austria. In the Falstaff RotweinGuide 2014, around 1500 wines of around 400 winemakers are described on 394 pages. This key reference for Austrian wine was released for the 17th time by Peter Moser.

The focus of the Falstaff RotweinGuide 2014 is on the 2011 vintage. The Falstaff RotweinGuide 2014 awarded prizes in 11 categories.

For previous years see:
Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2013
Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2010/2011
Wine ratings: Austria - Falstaff Top Red Wines 2009/2010

Austria’s Red Wine Boom

At first thought one might think of Austria’s climate as being quite cool for red wine. In the Alps and the western and northern reaches of the country this tends to be true. The eastern plains that border Hungary and Slovenia, however, are a different story. Yes, Austria has an international reputation for its white wines, but the reds have been improving. Like in Germany, in Austria there has been a revolution going on in terms of red wines in recent years. In both countries, red wine now accounts for about 1/3 of the wine production.

There are 3 key Austrian red grape varieties, although other varieties are also grown, including international grape varities. Zweigelt accounts for 9.0 % of Austria’s total production, Blaufraenkisch for 5.5 % and Blauer Portugieser 5.0 %. All other red grape varieties - including the international grapes Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah as well as St. Lauren - are below 2 percent each of Austria’s wine production.

Zwiegelt: The most abundant red grape; makes good wines ranging from simple cherry fruit reds to more substantial reds destined for aging.

Blaufränkisch: Common in Burgenland, this makes spicy, sturdy, berry fruited reds which can have some tannic structure. Probably Austria’s best red grape.

See:
Discover Blaufraenkisch! Top 100 Tasting in London, UK - Schiller's Favorites

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Austrian Wine Marketing Boss Willi Klinger in London, UK at the Blaufraenkisch Tasting

Blauer Portugieser: This red grape makes soft, approachable, juicy wines mainly for early consumption. The most widely planted red grape but not for top quality wines.

St. Laurent: Came from France in the mid-19th century, and seems to have substantial Pinot Noir parentage. It makes soft, slight herby, expressive reds; it’s a bit like Pinot Noir.

See more:
Wine Producer Austria - Not Only Gruener Veltliner

Falstaff RotweinGuide 2014 Awards

Falstaff-Sieger

1. Platz – Weingut Gernot und Heike Heinrich – Blaufränkisch Alter Berg 2011
2. Platz – Weingut Werner Achs – XUR 2011
3. Platz – Weingut Thomas Kopfensteiner – Eisenberg DAC Reserve Hornig 2011

Criterion: Highest Falstaff points.

“The Blaufränkisch Alter Berg from a top vineyartd in Winden, Leithaberg, shows how dominating the Blaufränkisch has become in Austria; the Blaufränkisch wines have never before reached such a high level of quality. In the hands of such an expert as Gernot Heinrich, the Blaufränkisch grapes from 2011 were bound to produce a wine with the potential to develop into a wine legend," said Falstaff editor-in-chief Peter Moser about the winning wine.

“With this wonderfully balanced blend, Werner Achs, who also won the Zweigelt Grand Prix Award, showed what he is capable of doing” said Falstaff editor-in-chief Peter Moser.

The third place went to the winery Thomas Kopfensteiner from Deutsch Schützen with its Eisenberg DAC Reserve Hornig 2011. "A clear commitment to varietal character and terroir – you can smell and taste the Eisenberg in the glass”.

Falstaff Reserve Trophy

1. Platz – Weingut Kollwentz – Blaufränkisch Setz 2009
2. Platz – Weingut Birgit Braunstein – Blaufränkisch Thenau 2009
3. Platz – Weingut Toni Hartl – Blaufränkisch Eisner 2009

The first prize for mature wines in the Falstaff Reserve Trophy category went to Kollwentz aus Großhöflein with their Blaufränkisch Setz 2009, leaving high-class wines from about 100 competitors behind them.

Falstaff Blauer Zweigelt Grand Prix

1. Platz – WG Werner Achs – Zweigelt Goldberg 2012
2. Platz – Hans und Philipp Grassl – Zweigelt Rubin Carnuntum 2012
3. Platz – WG Paul Achs – Zweigelt Alte Reben 2012

Falstaff Blauer Zweigelt Grand Prix provided a first assessment of the 2012 vintage. About 170 wines were submitted and the first prize went to Weingut Werner Achs from Gols with their Zweigelt Goldberg 2012, closely followed by Weingut Hans und Philipp Grassl from Göttlesbrunn with their Zweigelt Rubin Carnuntum 2012. The third place went to Weingut Paul Achs, also from Gols, with their Zweigelt Alte Reben 2012.

The Sortensieger

Zweigelt

1. Platz – Weingut Johanneshof Reinisch – Zweigelt Frauenfeld 2011
2. Platz – Weingut Hans und Philipp Grassl – Zweigelt Schüttenberg 2011
3. Platz – Weingut Umathum – Zweigelt Ried Hallebühl 2011

Syrah

1. Platz – Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl – Syrah Schüttenberg 2011
2. Platz – Weingut Gesellmann – Syrah 2011
3. Platz – Weingut Trapl – Syrah Kirchberg 2011

Pictures: Christian G.E. Schiller and Christine and Franz Netzl in Göttlesbrunn in the Carnuntum

See:
Visiting Christine, Christina and Franz Netzl in their Weingut Netzl in Carnuntum, Austria
Welcome to America: Franz and Christine Netzl Estate, Carnuntum, Austria

Cabernet Sauvignon

1. Platz – Weingut Kollwentz – Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
2. Platz – Weingut Taferner – Cabernet Sauvignon Tribun 2011
3. Platz – Weingut Juris – Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2011

Merlot

1. Platz – Weingut Lukas Markowitsch – Merlot Schüttenberg 2011
2. Platz – Weingut Niki Windisch – Merlot Sandwühler 2011
3. Platz – Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl – Merlot Bärnreiser 2011

Pinot Noir

1. Platz – Weingut Gerhard Markowitsch – Pinot Noir Reserve 2011
2. Platz – Weingut Claus Preisinger – Pinot Noir 2011
3. Platz – Weingut Uwe Schiefer – Pinot Noir 2011

St. Laurent

1. Platz – Weingut Pittnauer – St. Laurent Rosenberg 2011
2. Platz – Weingut Hans und Philipp Grassl – St. Laurent Reserve 2011
3. Platz – Weingut Johanneshof Reinisch – St. Laurent Frauenfeld 2011

Blaufränkisch

1. Platz – Weingut Gernot und Heike Heinrich – Blaufränkisch Alter Berg 2011
2. Platz – Weingut Kopfensteiner – Eisenberg DAC Reserve Hornig 2011
3. Platz ex aequo – Weingut Paul Achs – Blaufränkisch Ungerberg 2011 und Weingut Paul Lehrner – Blaufränkisch Steineiche 2011

Cuvée

1. Platz – Weingut Werner Achs – XUR (BF/ZW/SL) 2011
2. Platz – Weingut Anita und Hans Nittnaus – Pannobile (ZW/BF) 2011
3. Platz – Weingut Robert Goldenits – Mephisto (SY/CS/ME) 2011

Picture: Hans (John) Nittnaus in Rust

See also:
Meeting “John” Nittnaus from Gols, Burgenland, Austria

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Visit: Gerhard Wohlmuth sen. and his Weingut Wohlmuth in Austria

Meeting Gerhard Wohlmuth jun. from Weingut Wohlmuth, Austria, and Tasting his Wines in Washington DC

Welcome to America: Franz and Christine Netzl Estate, Carnuntum, Austria

Producing Wines in Austria and Hungary - Franz and Franz Reinhard Weninger

With the WienWein Winemakers in Vienna in the Heurigen Drinking Gemischter Satz Wine

Tasting Leo Hillinger Red Wines with Leo Hillinger’s Assistant Winemaker Michael Hoeffken and US Importer Klaus Wittauer

Visiting Leo Hillinger, Michael Hoeffken and Edgar Brutler at the Leo Hillinger Winery in Jois, Austria

Wine Producer Austria - Not Only Gruener Veltliner

At the Forefront of Biodynamic Winemaking: Visiting Werner and Angela Michlits and their Weingut Meinklang in Austria

Visiting Christine, Christina and Franz Netzl in their Weingut Netzl in Carnuntum, Austria

Sauvignon Blanc in Austria – A Comparative Tasting with Falstaff's Peter Moser at Weinsinn in Frankfurt, Germany

Meeting “John” Nittnaus from Gols, Burgenland, Austria

Discover Blaufraenkisch! Top 100 Tasting in London, UK - Schiller's Favorites

Austria at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA 

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars and Other Wine Spots in Vienna, Austria

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