TNs: Two 2005's from Hirtzberger

WINE TALK
1

Still somewhat of a rookie in linking TNs from CT to here, although you really can’t argue with how easy Eric has made this.

At any rate, we’re having a marinated pork loin today for din-din, so I decided I wanted to pair it with a more “substantial” white, in this case a pair of wines from Hirtzberger’s 2005 vintage.

  • 2005 Franz Hirtzberger Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Rotes Tor - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau (9/1/2013)
    Dark yellow-gold in the glass; this was popped & poured, but the nose is really upfront, a mix of white fruits and minerality, very complex - almost so nice that you don’t want to “ruin it” by tasting the wine!

Almost unctuous on the palate, mid-to full-bodied for a white, with still present acidity to focus the flavors. Really nice right now, and hard to imagine it could get much better.

  • 2005 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Hochrain - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau (9/1/2013)
    Maybe even a shade darker in the glass than the Rotes Tor GV. Great nose that I always describe as white fruit cocktail served in a slate bowl - really pronounced right from the get-go.

Nice delineation on the palate, more acidity present than the GV, modest petrol nuance; like the GV, also drinking quite nicely today, although in this wine I could see some possible further development with more time.

Posted from CellarTracker

I still have the 2002 Hochrain in the cellar - one of these days I will have to try that wine side-by-side with this vintage. [cheers.gif]

2

I have very little experience with this producer so far, but it has been positive enough for me to be buying. I’m glad to see these have come along so well.

3

Doug, one of my favorite Austrian winemakers - they have some great photography on their website as well. Here’s a link to a picture of the “red gate” (Rotes Tor):

http://www.hirtzberger.at/index.php?article_id=9&clang=1

4

Just finished a bottle of the Rotes Tor Federspiel 2007 that I opened yesterday. Could still use some time.

5

great pictures, thanks for the link. Hirtzberger is high on my list for further exploration, and this reminder has bumped them up a couple of notches. I understand that the quantities coming into this country are fairly small, but I see that they’re readily available in certain areas.