Franz Hirtzberger, Pluris Grauburgunder Smaragd, Wachau

Really generous and open. Beautiful body and sweet white stone-fruit palate. Long and dense but elegant. Byobto Yorokobu.

Poured a pale gold color, with a nose of citrus and herbs. Opened with pear and lemon citrus notes, transitioning to more herbal notes with some nuttiness. Medium body, acid was apparent, but not overly assertive. The finish was on the shorter side. Overall, a very enjoyable wine.

Decanted this for a good hour and it improved noticeably. The slightly oxidized nose wafts an intriguing arrangement of lemon zest, coarse slate, flint and crushed gravel minerality, banana peel, dried parsley, green apple and a small hit of petrol. The body is a plush medium weight with round, smooth and juicy acid that provides night weight and framing. It kicks off with a variety of peppery yellow, green and orange citrus fruit zest that is quickly followed by a …

I served this in my wine course. Nose is unusual. A nuttiness that I don't usually associate with pinot gris / grauburgunder combined with a touch of spice. Oddness continues in the taste. I've tasted many Austrian grauburgunders, but would not have pegged this as one of them. Lots of bitterness and yeasty flavors in the medium weight mid palate. Finish is not particularly long or short, but is also unusual. None of the spiciness or fruity flavors in the …

4h dekantiert, zu Beginn schon sehr ansprechend, Aromen noch nicht perfekt integriert, was sich nach dem dekantieren jedoch legt. Gelbgold mit schönen Fruchtnoten und leicht erdig, ledriger Nase. Auf dem Gaumen weiter Fruchnoten aber auch feines Säurerückgrat, passt perfekt zum Raclette.

Wachau Spring Wine Festival (Wachauer Weinfrühling) (The Wachau) : Smokey, attractive nose; concentrated but a little tart in the mouth; relatively austere. € 23. ***