Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2016


Pictures: Christian Schiller and Christina Netzl-Archer, at Weingut Netzl in Göttelsbrunn, with her Husband Peter Artner and little Lena Artner.Weingut Netzl is this Year's Falstaff Sieger with their 2013 Anna-Christina Red Wine Cuvée. The Wine was named after Christina Netzl and her Sister Anna.

The Falstaff RotweinGuide 2016, a wine guide for Austrian red wine, was released in November 2015 in Vienna, Austria. In the Falstaff RotweinGuide 2016, around 1500 wines of around 500 winemakers are described. This key reference for Austrian wine was released for the 19th time by Peter Moser. The focus of the Falstaff RotweinGuide 2016 is on the 2013 vintage. The Falstaff RotweinGuide 2016 awarded prizes in 11 categories.

For previous years see:
Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2015
Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2014
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.

Picture: Christian Schiller with Peter Moser, Falstaff Editor-in-Chief in Frankfurt

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 Schiller and Austrian Wine Marketing Boss Willi Klinger in London, UK at the Blaufränkisch 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.

Fallstaff Sieger

Best wine overall (in terms of Falstaff points) in the Fallstaff RotweinGuide 2016 is:

2013 Anna-Christina, Weingut Netzl from Göttlesbrunn in the Carnuntum. This is a Top-Cuvée, with 92 to 94 Falstaff points.




Pictures: Christian G.E. Schiller with Franz and Christine Netzl at the Netzl Estate in Austria

Pictures: Christian Schiller and Christine and Franz Neztl in Washington DC, USA

Second place goes to:

2013 Bela Rex, Weingut Albert Gesellmann from Deutschkreutz in the Burgenland. This is also Top-Cuvée.

Third place: 2013 Blaufränkisch, Winzerhof Ronald Kiss in Jois.

Picture: Falstaff Editor in Chief Peter Moser, Albert Gesellmann, Franz und Christine Netzl, Ronald Kiss, Showmaster Elke Winkens und Falstaff Editor Wolfgang Rosam (Photo: Falstaff)

Sortensieger - Specific Grape Variety Winners

For specific grape varieties, the winners are:

Blauer Zweigelt: Zweigelt Schwarz Rot 2013, Schwarz Wein, Andau – Neusiedlersee

Picture: Philipp Grassl (# 2), Weingut Schwarz (#1) and Markus Iro (#3) (Photo: Falstaff)

Blaufränkisch: Blaufränkisch Jungenberg 2013, Winzerhof Kiss, Jois – Neusiedlersee

Picture: Ronald Kiss (#1), Georg Wellanschitz (#3) and Weingut Nittnaus (#2) (Photo: Falstaff)

Cabernet Sauvignon: Cabernet Sauvignon Neuberg 2013, Winzerhof Kiss, Jois – Neusiedlersee

Picture: Erich Scheiblhofer (#3), Ronald Kiss (#1) and Robert Keringer (#2) (Photo: Falstaff)

Cuvée: Anna-Christina 2013, Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl, Göttlesbrunn – Carnuntum

Picture: Christina and Franz Netzl (#1), Albert Gesellmann (#2), René Pöckl (#3) (Photo: Falstaff)

Merlot: Merlot Optime 2013, Weingut Gerhard Pimpel, Göttlesbrunn – Carnuntum

Picture: Gerhard Pimpel (#1), Hannes Reeh (#2) and Reinhold Krutzler (#3) (Photo: Falstaff)

Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir Grand Select 2013, Weingut Wieninger, Wien

Picture: Fritz Wieninger (#1), Axel Stieglmar (Weingut Juris, #2), Gerhard Markowitsch (#3) (Photo: Falstaff)

St. Laurent: St. Laurent Reserve 2013, Weingut Stift Klosterneuburg, Klosterneuburg – Wagram

Picture: Wolfgang Hamm and Kellermeister Günther Gottfried vom Weingut Stift Klosterneuburg (#1), Philipp Grassl (#2), Fritz Wieninger (#3) (Photo: Falstaff)

Syrah: Shiraz Perfection 2013, Weingut Erich Scheiblhofer, Andau – Neusiedlersee

Picture: Weingut Artner (#3), Erich Scheiblhofer (#1) and Weingut Auer (#2)

Falstaff Reserve Trophy Winners

The Reserve Trophy is for wines that spent a bit more time in barrel or bottle.

1. Platz: M1 2012, Weingut Gerhard Markowitsch, Göttlesbrunn – Carnuntum
2. Platz (ex aequo): Salzberg 2012, Weingut Heike und Gernot Heinrich, Gols – Neusiedlersee
3. Platz (ex aequo): Cuvée Kerschbaum 2012, Weingut Paul Kerschbaum, Horitschon – Mittelburgenland

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

Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2015

Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2014

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







No comments:

Post a Comment