Willi Opitz Pinot Noir Reserve

While it does show some signs of age, it is still a good example of Austrian Pinot Noir. Some oxidized prune and cherry, warm dark fruit flavors, a bit too much alcohol on the finish, very fine tannins and good acidity. Very good, but time to finish remaining bottles. - 89 points

Really a nice surprise, this Pinot Noir is one of the better Austrian examples I have tasted so far. Slightly poopy on the nose initially, very spicy wine on the palate with crisp red fruits (forest strawberries), a pronounced smoky character, juicy style and refreshing acidity. Certainly not trying to be a Merlot or even Cabernet as some other Austrian Pinot Noirs, but it does show a bit too much alcohol on the finish. The spices and alcohol give it …

Open, generous nose of red berries with a touch of earthiness. Hard to say if there is a touch of wooden spice or vanilla oakiness, because it is integrated with the red fruit. When still rather cool, alcohol cuts through, but as the wine got warmer, the alcohol got hidden by the fruit. On the palate the wine is quite strong yet refreshing with fresh red berries. Stylistically somewhere between the light and elegant Burgundy PNs and the fruitier, more …