I have a soft-spot for Gruner Veltliner, the wonderful Austrian white grape variety that the Kiwis are now beginning to plant.
Here are two good, affordable examples. The problem with cheap Gruner is that it can end up being just a fresh, rather anonymous dry white wine. This pair manage to combine a low price point with a bit of varietal character.
Laurenz und Anna Sunny Gruner Veltliner 2011 Austria
12% alcohol. Tight, mineral, citrussy and bright with some grapefruit character. Real precision here: this is lively with some peppery notes and delicious freshness. 88/100 (£10.99 Morrisons)
Domaine Wachau Gruner Veltliner Terraces 2011 Wachau, Austria
13% alcohol. Lively, fresh and quite mineral with lovely pear and citrus fruit, and a hint of melon. Stylish, precise and a bit pithy. Good depth of flavour, with a bit of pepper. 89/100 (£7.39 Waitrose)
Tonight I drank Chehalem Gruner for the first time. It was very nice. I would like to compare it to yours. Where can I find your wine in Oregon?
Love Domaine Wachau! One of my favorite Gruners.
Excellent though it is, Wachau Terraces GV is £9.29 at Waitrose.
Veltliners are simply great. Having lived in Austria for over nine years, and now in the wine region, I have started discovering the wine in this region, and have a website/blog mainly on Veltliner.