In This Newsletter:
Brundlmayer Sale
Grape of the Week: Rieslaner
Austrian Gold
Stock Up & Save On:
Brundlmayer
Brundlmayer Sale
Grape of the Week: Rieslaner
Austrian Gold
Stock Up & Save On:
Brundlmayer
Austria is home to such astounding producers as FX Pichler, Gobelsburg, and Nikolaihof. Somms get EXCITED when they see these selections on our shelves. Unfortunately, these wines rarely get the attention they deserve. If these wines came from France, those biodynamic, single-vineyard, Grand Cru, food-friendly, and ridiculously underpriced gems from thousand-year-old wineries they would be three times as expensive. Instead, we get the best value high end whites in the world.
The Kamptal region in Austrian is the slightly less famous brother to the Wachau. As a result, the best wines are somehow an even better value. The quality is on par, so the wines from the likes of Bründlmayer end up being the best deals across the Old World. (The bottlings from the Heiligenstein vineyard, likely the Kamptal’s most famous, are in a class by themselves.)
Bründlmayer’s wines are somewhere in the middle between the fruit-forward style of Hirsch and the heft and contemplative nature of Gobelsburg. These are probably the most subtle when young, but blossom with age. The wines reward attention and aging in spectacular ways. Don’t skip the Chardonnay, either: it’s famous due to its own Judgement of Paris-type discovery. In the 1980s, it was entered into the Vinitaly wine fair on a lark and won Best Chardonnay in the World.
In a world where the market (outside of sommeliers) realized how good these were, we’d be sold out. The reality is that they’re somehow on our shelves, so we’ll nudge you their way with our three-day sale.
The Kamptal region in Austrian is the slightly less famous brother to the Wachau. As a result, the best wines are somehow an even better value. The quality is on par, so the wines from the likes of Bründlmayer end up being the best deals across the Old World. (The bottlings from the Heiligenstein vineyard, likely the Kamptal’s most famous, are in a class by themselves.)
Bründlmayer’s wines are somewhere in the middle between the fruit-forward style of Hirsch and the heft and contemplative nature of Gobelsburg. These are probably the most subtle when young, but blossom with age. The wines reward attention and aging in spectacular ways. Don’t skip the Chardonnay, either: it’s famous due to its own Judgement of Paris-type discovery. In the 1980s, it was entered into the Vinitaly wine fair on a lark and won Best Chardonnay in the World.
In a world where the market (outside of sommeliers) realized how good these were, we’d be sold out. The reality is that they’re somehow on our shelves, so we’ll nudge you their way with our three-day sale.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Brundlmayer
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Brundlmayer
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Sunday, May 11th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Brundlmayer
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Sunday, May 11th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer seven in-stock Bründlmayer options on sale now, including:
Weingut Bründlmayer Chardonnay Ried Steinberg 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Falstaff Magazine 95 points “Light golden yellow, silver reflections. Fine wood spice, a touch of caramel, blossom honey and orange peel, vanilla echo as well as some papaya and spicy nuances. Juicy, elegant, salty, white tropical fruit, tobacco finish, mineral echo, very good persistency, reductive finish, will benefit from bottle age.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Ried Käferberg, Kamptal DAC Reserve 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 96 points “What a lovely nose of apricots, lemons, nutmeg, orange zest and white chocolate. It’s creamy and medium- to full-bodied, with zesty acidity cutting through. Fantastic balance, length and intensity. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2021 Grüner Veltliner Ried Käferberg 1ÖTW demonstrates immediately that loess terroir doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t bear mineral wines. This Veltliner is pure chalk, crystalline and Veltliner, so very authentic and, at least, exciting on the nose, which is deep, saline and rich yet pure and intermingling ripe pear with saline mineral notes. Vital, pure and saline, with a creamy-elegant texture built by sur lie aging in oak, this is a complex and elegant Käferberg with a remarkably dense, long and intense finish. This is a seriously structured wine doubtlessly from old vines and superb viticulture that is now certified organic. The finish is complex, saline and very long. There are not many wines that can stand up to a green curry, but this is one of them. 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in January 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Bründlmayer Riesling Ried Steinmassl, Kamptal 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $37, that’s $35.15 at 5% off and $33.30 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points “At once intense and mellow, which is a weird thing to write, but this is a special wine. Delicate white-fruit aromas. Excellent structure and racy minerality make this really exciting. Very long, crystalline finish that promises a very long life. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2019 Ried Steinmassel 1ÖTW Kamptal Riesling opens clear, intense and snappy on the nose, quite open and with floral fruit aromas but also a very ripe and dried raisin aroma intermingled with crystalline (para-gneiss and amphibolite) and black pepper notes. Dense and juicy on the palate, this is a concentrated, firmly structured, crystalline, very elegant and tensioned Riesling with a dried stone fruit aroma and very firm phenolics. A wine to age for at least 5-6 years. There are crunchy tannins on the finish that might come from the reduction rather than the pressing, which was whole clusters and pressed at 6 p.m. when they started to fill at 11 a.m. Picked on October 17th. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at Schloss Gobelsburg in June 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Bründlmayer Riesling Ried Steinmassl, Kamptal 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $37, that’s $35.15 at 5% off and $33.30 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Eye-poppingly fresh nose of ferns and savory notes with underlying, lemony fruit. Very tightly wound and energetic, this is a radically racy dry riesling for Austria. Very long, whiplash finish that will either turn you off or drive you wild, like us. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “From a south-southeast-facing cru on Gföhler gneiss soils and ranging from 240 to 340 meters in altitude, the 2021 Riesling Ried Steinmassl 1ÖTW was picked on October 18 and 19, then macerated and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine shows a clear and intense, pure and elegant nose with ripe and elegant fruit aromas intertwined with spicy and saline notes. Crystalline and savory on the palate, this is a medium-bodied yet supple and tightly structured Steinmassl with clear, defined fruit and fine tannins intermingled with the saline acidity. Very long and complex finish. It’s still on its way but very promising. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in October 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Bründlmayer Riesling Ried Heiligenstein, Kamptal DAC 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “Buddleia, lemon blossom and ocean spray rush from the glass, then provide alluring inner-mouth perfume and mineral nuance on a luscious, surprisingly buoyant palate saturated with ripe white peach and lime. This finishes with vibrant tingling of crystalline mineral impingements, an invigoratingly reductive hint of struck flint, seductive liquid floral perfume and saliva-drawing salinity. 2017-2028.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Bründlmayer Riesling Ried Heiligenstein, Kamptal DAC 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Although this is still very young it begins dramatically with an intensely herbal and white fruits nose. Mineral power kicks in on the palate and drives it forward at a brisk clip. A slightly austere finish, but one that’s full of stony character and is very long and bright. Drink now.”
Weingut Bründlmayer Riesling Ried Heiligenstein, Kamptal DAC 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 96 points “The 2022 Riesling Heiligenstein is from core parcels of the site, where cool Waldviertel air meets the warm Pannonian influence. This 2022 vintage is the first where the Lyra- and Guyot-trained vines were co-harvested and co-fermented. The nose has a subtle note of cypress, with a touch of smokiness and a suspicion of green citrus peel. The palate adds a riper notion of juicy white peach, but remains framed with tingling citrus. Both elements together result in immense juiciness, showing a svelte exuberance that, for now, skips over stony minerality, which will take time to reveal itself. This is beautiful, taut, long and serene. (Bone-dry).”
Rieslaner, the aptly named cross of Riesling and Silvaner, is an aromatic white grape well worth your time. It’s known (beloved, reviled?) for its ridiculously long growing season – it can struggle to fully ripen in cool years and demands prime sun exposure. Fortunately, between the ever-warming climate (well, that part’s not fortunate) and the sentimental inclinations of some of Germany’s top producers, we’re living in the glory days of Rieslaner.
So, how does it taste? Given its parentage, it unsurprisingly offers up crisp acidity and bold aromatics (yellow fruit and berries) while taking nicely to botrytis and a range of sweetness levels. We’re lucky enough to have a few examples in stock, including a blend from Evesham Wood.
In Stock Now:
Evesham Wood Blanc du Puits Sec, Eola-Amity Hills 2024 750ml $19 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Winery Notes “Our Pinot Noirs have always grabbed the headlines, but this white field blend from our certified organic Le Puits Sec estate vineyard has been here from the beginning. Old vine Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer are co-fermented with our tiny plantings of Gruner Veltliner, Rieslaner, and Traminer. Sure, we’re biased, but the 2024 vintage of our Blanc is as good as it’s ever been–a powerful personality yet perfectly balanced.”
So, how does it taste? Given its parentage, it unsurprisingly offers up crisp acidity and bold aromatics (yellow fruit and berries) while taking nicely to botrytis and a range of sweetness levels. We’re lucky enough to have a few examples in stock, including a blend from Evesham Wood.
In Stock Now:
Evesham Wood Blanc du Puits Sec, Eola-Amity Hills 2024 750ml $19 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Winery Notes “Our Pinot Noirs have always grabbed the headlines, but this white field blend from our certified organic Le Puits Sec estate vineyard has been here from the beginning. Old vine Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer are co-fermented with our tiny plantings of Gruner Veltliner, Rieslaner, and Traminer. Sure, we’re biased, but the 2024 vintage of our Blanc is as good as it’s ever been–a powerful personality yet perfectly balanced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Keller Pius Auslese, Rheinhessen 2022 375ml $54.50 special, 2 half-bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A blend of mostly Riesling with Rieslaner and Schereube.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Keller Rieslaner Auslese, Rheinhessen 2019 375ml $49 special, 3 half-bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: As Keller moves to produce more off-dry and sweet wines, this is the “house” sweet wine. Rieslaner is a cross of Silvaner and Riesling. It’s a rare, late-ripening variety with high acidity, and Keller is one of the most renowned producers working with it.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Keller Rieslaner Auslese, Rheinhessen 2022 375ml $45 special, 10 half-bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: As Keller moves to produce more off-dry and sweet wines, this is the “house” sweet wine. Rieslaner is a cross of Silvaner and Riesling. It’s a rare, late-ripening variety with high acidity, and Keller is one of the most renowned producers working with it.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Keller Monsheimer Silberberg Rieslaner Beerenauslese Goldkapsel 2018 375ml $219 special, 6 half-bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Silberberg, which name translates to silver mountain, was named after the mining the once occurred in the area. Rieslaner is a cross of Silvaner and Riesling. It’s a rare, late-ripening variety with high acidity, and Keller is one of the most renowned producers working with it. Soils of limestone, loess, flint, and clay. Klaus Peter Keller, in discussion with David Schildknecht of Vinous, explains that the gold capsule designation “no longer means more botrytis or a much higher must weight. It means [the grapes are] from the best part of a vineyard or its oldest vines.” Making this the finest example of Beerenauslese Rieslaner available from the winery, and likely the world.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Muller-Catoir Haardter Herzog Rieslaner Trockenbeerenauslese, Pfalz 2018 375ml $89 special, 36+ half-bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 97 points “Corresponding to the most desiccated (yet still virtually botrytis-free) berries picked out from the material that otherwise became this year’s Beerenauslese, here we have one of those phenomenally concentrated Müller-Catoir essays in Rieslaner’s unique dessert wine potential. Take the pear drops, honey and vanilla cream of the corresponding B.A. in all their aromatic intensity and glossy, glowing richness, and add almost buttery textural creaminess and enhanced viscosity set against a blazingly bright and invigorating evocation of fresh pineapple, clementine and lemon. The tension is, to say the least, productive…yet almost unbearable as you work the wine around in your mouth. Any sense of caramelization – such as was prominent in the corresponding Auslese – has been left behind (though perhaps some decades from now it will emerge). Smoky black tea and citrus peels lend piquant counterpoint to a mouth-shakingly vibrant, preternaturally persistent finish. The qualitative curve has in my long experience never before been this steep from Rieslaner Auslese to TBA. ‘If you could have seen how dramatically the grapes differed for each of them,’ noted Franzen, ‘then this wouldn’t surprise you.’”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Shop our six Rieslaner and Rieslaner blends selections now!
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Bandol
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Bandol
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Bandol
Azelia & Paitin
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Azelia & Paitin
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Azelia & Paitin
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Bandol sale ends Friday, May 9th at 9 am Pacific. Azelia & Paitin sale ends Saturday, May 10th at 9 am Pacific.