So for the last few days I have been up a mountain with a group of buddies in the lovely town of Zell am See in Austria. It has been such fun. I only managed one day on skis, though. I am not a very good skier and I damaged my knee on the first day – not enough to cause real concern but enough to keep me off the slopes yesterday and this morning. This is such a lovely town, on a lake. It’s the perfect size for a few days. The snow has been ideal, too.
We have drunk quite a bit of beer and wine. Nothing too fancy on the wine front, but we’ve been sticking to Austria and had some nice affordable bottles.
Johanneshof Reinisch Pinot Noir 2012 Thermenregion, Austria
This was the best wine of the trip, and it wasn’t expensive. Lovely sweet ripe silky black fruits with some spice and cherry fruit – lovely purity here. Sweet, ripe and warm with some subtle herbal notes. Central Otago style? 91/100
Umathum Sankt Laurent 2012 Burgenland, Austria
I spotted this on the list at Crazy Daisy, and ordered it, but the staff member advised me against it. He said that customers had been complaining. He was right: it is quite unusual, with a bit of reduction. Sweet, warm, ripe berry fruits with a hint of meat and some slightly rubbery spicy reductive notes. Herbs and black cherries. Very distinctive. 90/100
Paul Kerschbaum Blaufrankisch 2011 Burgenland
14% alcohol. Sweet, lush pure black cherry fruit with a lovely silky sweet character to the fruit. Very appealing. 89/100
Taferner Rubin Zweigelt 2012 Carnuntum, Austria
Sweet, ripe and generous berry and cherry fruits with some vanilla and spice oak. Rich, quite stylish but very oaky with a hint of chocolate. For Rioja lovers. 88/100
Sonnhoff Jurschitsch Zweigelt 2011 Niederosterreich, Austria
Fresh, vivid red cherry fruit with a hint of leafiness. Generous and fruity with just a touch of pepper spice. 89/100
Fred Loimer Zweigelt 2012 Austria
Juicy sweet blackberry and cherry fruit. Very rounded and sweetly fruited with a sense of deliciousness to it. Silky and suave. 88/100
Sonnhoff Jurschitsch Gruner Veltliner Trocken 2013 Austria
Very bright and focused with some pepper and citrus notes. Lovely lemon and grapefruit with a hint of pepper. Very clean and pure. 88/100
