A Pair of Pichlers Sale 1-18-24

We’re slashing our already incredibly low prices to stock your cellars with some of the finest wines produced in all of Austria!
 

 
Pichler-Krutlzer
 
Elisabeth Pichler-Krutzler, daughter of Franz Xaver (F.X.) Pichler, married the highly-regarded Austrian winemaker Erich Krutzler. In 2007, the pair founded the estate of Pichler-Krutlzer. Their winery is based around the great vineyards of the Wachau and produces some of Austria’s most highly regarded wines.
 
The pair prefer brighter, fresher wines than the style classically produced at FX (which itself is increasingly tending towards lower ripeness and higher acidity). These wines tend to have a little less power and a lot more versatility at the table. They’re breathtakingly complex, soulful wines that, like the remarkable wines of Selbach-Oster, are designed to be enjoyed with food.
 
“The quality of the wines [is] undeniably high, even in 2021, a vintage that combines the ripeness of 2019 with the acidity of 2010 or even 2014. However, the extracts—and therefore the internal density—are higher in the new wines, whose alcohol levels range between a moderate 12% and 13.5%. As always in recent years, the Alte Reben selection from Pfaffenberg is one of the estate’s most impressive wines, led by the superb 2020. But the 2021 Rieslings from Loibenberg and Kellerberg are also fabulous and among the finest wines produced this year in the Wachau.” -Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
 
In Stock & On Sale Now from Pichler-Krutzler:
 
Pichler-Krutzler Loibenberg Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $45, 2 bottles in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Earth and salty yeast come together on the nose, promising texture and savoriness. The palate then adds a lovely Russet pear ripeness and roundness that sits well with the earthy, concentrated, yeasty backdrop that holds pithy concentration and lip-smacking freshness. This is lovely, round and expressive.”

 
Pichler-Krutzler Loibenberg Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $49, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2021 Loibner Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg shows an intense yellow color and opens with a pure yet intense and slightly lactic (?) or yeasty bouquet of ripe and lush, yellow fruits intertwined with notes of crushed, crystalline stones and dark flinty notes. Round and mouth-filling on the palate, this an elegant, intense and textured, savory and finely tannic Loibenberg with a sustainable saline and crystalline finish. This is a fine and elegant, finely textured and fruit-intense Veltliner that fermented longer than the other wines (until the end of January), then aged in a 1,200-liter stück barrel and was bottled at the end of August this year with 13.5% stated alcohol. The wine doesn’t have the precision and finesse of the other Veltliners at this early stage, but it will find itself after years on the bottle. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
 

 
Pichler-Krutzler Pfaffenberg Alte Reben Gruner Veltliner, Kremstal 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $69, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “Vinified in a new, untoasted 900-liter oak vat, the 2019 Ried Pfaffenberg Alte Reben Grüner Veltliner was only bottled in spring this year. The intensely citrus-colored wine shows a flinty, precise, fine and fresh bouquet with ripe stone fruit aromas and spices of crunchy crystalline stones. Creamy textured, ripe, lush and very elegant, with some attractive oak notes but fine tannins, this is a sensual, well-balanced and perfectly round Pfaffenberg that has to be marketed as Kremstal Reserve because the oak influence was too dominant for the DAC tasters in Krems. There is 14.5% alcohol, which you don’t feel due to the mineral freshness and elegance. Tasted at the domain in June 2021.”
 

 
Pichler-Krutzler ‘In der Wand’ Riesling, Wachau 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $33, 5 bottles in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Wine Enthusiast 94 points “A hint of creaminess creeps deliciously into the orange zest notes on the nose. The palate comes on light feet but is vibrant with zesty notes of ripe orange and Amalfi lemon. The body is slender but concentrated, almost fizzing with ripe and utterly fresh zestiness. The finish is clean, taut and dry with lasting, mouthwatering citrus. Drink by 2040.”
James Suckling 93 points “Lots of flint and gun metal with lemon and lime and some stone character. It’s medium-to full-bodied with lots of character and a dry, fruity finish. Already shows some bottle bouquet. Drink now.”
 

 
Pichler-Krutzler Kellerberg Riesling, Wachau 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $69, 21 bottles in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. A still shy nose is not ready to give up its secrets easily, despite much swirling and air. It is the palate that lifts the veil on the citric depth and intensity at the heart of this wine. Tangerine and lemon seem to emanate from a deep, stony, steely and cool depth. That citrus heart is concentrated and seems to draw on a boundless energy that drives it forward with purpose. This is beautiful, chiseled and unbelievably vivid. Drink 2025–2050.”
James Suckling 96 points “Maybe I’m amazed, because this stunning dry riesling marries ravishing fruit aromas. The spectrum ranges from mirabelle to candied lemon via peach, also with wild-herb notes, plus stony minerality. The long finish flickers between lime zest and white chocolate. And all somehow remains delicate! Drink or hold.”
 
Pichler-Krutzler Kellerberg Riesling, Wachau 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $69, 1 bottle in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2021 Dürnsteiner Riesling Ried Kellerberg is extremely concentrated and deep on the finely flinty and substantial nose. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and savory, finely tannic and grippy Kellerberg with ripe and concentrated fruit but also a firm and saline finish. The acidity is enormous here (9.4 grams per liter), and the piquancy is well interwoven here with the extract. This is a wine to be cellared for at least 3-4 years. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A very serious, concentrated Riesling, with honeysuckle, white nectarine and pepper-dusted apple giving way to crushed flint and quinine bitterness. Shows subtle honey and tea notes that move in midpalate, with sublime integration and impressive acid structure overall. Very delicious now and will only improve with time. Drink now through 2035. 20 cases imported.”
 

 
Pichler-Krutzler Loibenberg Riesling, Wachau 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, 9 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “Picked between October 16 and 18, the 2021 Loibner Riesling Ried Loibenberg opens with a spectacularly pure, fresh, precise and flinty as well as dense and perfectly ripe stone fruit aroma intermingled with lemon notes. On the palate, this is a salty, saline and savory Loibenberg with an elegant, intense and persistently saline finish with tension, salt and grip. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
 

 
 
F.X. Pichler
 
“F.X. Pichler is the Chateau Latour, Domaine de la Romanêe-Conti, Zind-Humbrecht, Sandrone and Helen Turley of the Wachau.” -Robert Parker Jr, Wine Advocate

Sommelier and Riesling Legend Paul Greico once said, “If F.X. was a guitarist, Jimmy Page would stand aside” and no truer hyperbole has ever been uttered in the world of wine. F.X. Pichler stands as one of if not the most important Austrian producers. Hands down, the winery crafting the most powerful and complex dry Riesling and Gruner Veltliner on the planet.
 
In spite of being the birthplace of biodynamic farming and the strictest farming standards in the European Union, the wines of Austria remain critically undervalued. There is no better example of this than that of FX Pichler, one of the best producers in the country. Take your pick between the multigenerational team of family winemakers (father, F.X., and son, Lucas, who took over winemaking in the late 1990s), the picture-perfect estate, and the exceptionally old vines and you’ll see their exceptional reputation evidenced in spades.
 
The wines are unique in that no one else seems to wrangle power, freshness and complexity into a single package quite like these wizards of the Wachau. These wines are legendary for their combination of richness and electric minerality. With a combination of intensive viticulture, native fermentations and great terroir, the wines are unlike anything else in the world. Broad and powerful, with a cut and minerality that’s unique, these are wines to drink now and to age, as well.  These are perfect wines for any celebratory occasion and will also age beautifully for the next decade or two.
 
Not inclined to rest of their laurels, with the 2020 vintage, the winery dropped the Wachau wine classifications that are ripeness-based (Federspiel and Smaragd being the most recognizable). They disagreed with the regional winemaker’s association, Vinea Wachau’s, decision to not modernize the classifications in response to climate change. Instead, the father and son team prefer a system more similar to the French which classifies wines based on their origin (regional, village, and single-vineyard).
 
Wine critics certainly aren’t concerned about the change, as the winery continues to collect 100 point scores and Winery of the Year awards from the likes of the Wine Advocate, Falstaff Magazine, James Suckling, and the German restaurant guide, Schlemmer Atlas.
 
“For Lucas Pichler, 2021 was a “great year” because of the combination of “insane ripeness,” high extract density and high acidity, all this with moderate alcohol levels… Harvesting is now done in the terraced sites in small, stackable boxes, always by hand and always with sharp eyes and targeted cuts to be able to process only the best grape material… The results in 2021 are lean but fresh, structured and exciting wines, exceedingly complex in the crus, with alcohol levels ranging from 12% to a maximum of 13.5% (in the case of Grüner Veltliner from the warm Loibenberg site). Pichler’s 2020s, especially the Kellerberg, have already proven that they do not require opulence to produce great wines… all the 2021s fermented very slowly, possibly because of the low pH levels and high acidity. They have not lost any precision in the process, though. Pichler’s 2021s are among the very best in the Wachau again, with the Kellerbergs and the Loibenbergs leading the rest.” -Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
 
In Stock & On Sale Now from F.X. Pichler:
 
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $59, 3 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “A very striking gruner veltliner that’s seriously introverted, offering so much herbal and licorice character, but almost no fruit. The power is underplayed, the body restrained and the salty finish is still tightly wound. Great aging potential here. Drink or hold.”
 

 
F.X. Pichler Loibner Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $28, 15 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Positively green aromas with so much freshness and energy, but still far removed from anything sauvignon blanc-like. Lovely juicy fruit, but also good depth at the finish. Drink now.”
 

 
F.X. Pichler Loibner Ried Klostersatz Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $41.90, 8 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “A very lively and elegant gruner veltliner with a ton of herb and snow-pea character. Excellent tension on the sleek and bright palate. So refreshing. Drink now. Screw cap.”
Vineyard Notes “The Ried Klostersatz is, as the name suggests, one of the oldest vineyards in the Wachau to be cultivated by the monks of Bavarian and Salzburg monasteries. It is a vineyard with a remarkably deep soil composition situated in the Loibner basin, within the majestic curve of the Danube river between Dürnstein and Oberloiben. The topsoil is characterized by fine sand particles, which indicate a slow flow rate during the deposition. The underlying gravel, on the other hand, was deposited at a high flow rate. The high degree of rounding of the pebbles is evidence of a long transport route from the Alps.”
 

 
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Ried Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, 9 bottles in stock now
Falstaff Magazine 94-96 points “Medium yellow-green, silver reflections. Mineral, fine herbal spice, nuances of yellow fruit, hints of apricot and mango, with fine honey blossom. Complex, substantial, fine white pear, fine acidity, salty touch on the finish, already well developed, a multi-faceted food wine, good maturity and with definite ageing potential.”
 

 
F.X. Pichler Loibner Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg, Wachau 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2021 Loibner Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg offers a fascinating, clear and pure, deep, intense and mineral-rich bouquet with just-ripe fruit but also grassy and herbal aromas with a hint of smoke, dates and tobacco leaves. Full-bodied yet vital and fresh on the palate, this is a rich and intense but also pure, refined and very elegant Loibenberg with a dense body uplifted by fine mineral acidity. It’s an impressive, stimulating, saline and refreshing mineral and herbal GV with a sustainable and complex finish. Absolutely gorgeous Loibenberg. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
James Suckling 96 points “There’s a whole basket of yellow fruit here, including ripe apricot and King Alfonso mango, but there’s nothing loud about this beautiful high-end gruner veltliner, rather it opens slowly and steadily in the glass. Exact balance of ripeness and freshness, the latter accentuated by a note of tobacco leaf. Long and juicy, yet fresh and very precise finish that pulls you back for more. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 

 
F.X. Pichler Loibner Burgstall Riesling Federspiel, Wachau 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Super crisp and crunchy with a slightly tart peach character that is so invigorating. Great mineral freshness at the finish. Drink or hold.”
 

 
F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $49, 1 bottle in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “Warm and intense on the nose, ripe and concentrated white fruit aromas open the 2015 Riesling Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg, which is pure and citric on the nose and very inviting. Pure, fresh and piquant on the palate, this is rather coolish and stunningly lean and pure Loibenberg compared to the corresponding Grüner Veltliner. Lucas believes that Riesling has eventually stopped the ripening process during the vegetation period. This 2015 has grip and tension and a rather coolish character.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 92 points “Offering a predictably riper impression than the corresponding Steinertal, this delivers peach, Persian melon and banana, with a garland of rose petals that could have come from Gewürztraminer. Yet for all of its ripeness and the expansiveness of a glycerol-rich palate, it manages to convey a lovely sense of lift, while hints of peach kernel and grapefruit zest lend welcome, stimulating counterpoint to the impressively sustained finish.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “A concentrated, peach-flavored white, with accents of honey, anise and apple exuding ripeness, while citrusy acidity reigns everything in. Stretches out lazily on the finish. Drink now through 2020.”
 

 
F.X. Pichler Loibner Riesling Ried Loibenberg, Wachau 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Ravishing pineapple and orange-peel nose with a hint of mint wafting over the deep fruit. Stunning combination of juiciness, concentration and vibrancy that runs right through the very long finish. So uplifting with great aging potential. Drink or hold.”