We turn now to Carnuntum. In the past, it has been known for easy-drinking red wines, but it is now trying to move up the quality scale. Blaufränkisch seems to be the grape of the future in this area that is south and southeast of Vienna.
I tasted thirty-five wines from 2020 and 2019. I reproduce only my notes on the better wines; as for the rest, they ranged from not especially interesting to seriously flawed. Unfortunately, we did not have any wine from Trapl or Markowitsch, both producers of high reputation.
ARTNER
2020 (Höflein) Ried Steinäcker Zweigelt
Floral, perfumed nose with ethereal blackberry fruit in nose and mouth. Long. Cork closure. 13.5% stated alcohol. 90(+)/A-
DIETRICH
2020 (Prellenkirchen) Ried Spitzerberg-Obere Spitzer Blaufränkisch
Elegant, blackberry fruit, light, long, pretty, but not profound. Cork closure. 14% stated alcohol. 88/B
Dorli MUHR
Dorli Muhr’s wines have consistently been the best I’ve found in the region.
2019 (Höflein) Ried Kirchweingarten Blaufränkisch
Truffly nose. Light, elegant, smooth with red currant pudding fruit, good length. 13.5% stated alcohol. 91(+)/A
2019 (Prellenkirchen) Ried Spitzerberg-Kranzen Blaufränkisch
Floral, vanillin nose. Light on palate, mineral, blackberry, long, elegant. Cork closure. 13.5% stated alcohol. 89/B+
2019 (Prellenkirchen) Ried Spitzerberg-Obere Rotard Blaufränkisch
Light, pure, dark berries, airy, good length. Cork closure. 13% stated alcohol. 90/A-
2019 (Prellenkirchen) Ried Spitzerberg-Obere Spitzer Blaufränkisch
Blackberry, refined, long, smooth, diary, light, some tannin. Cork closure. 13% stated alcohol. 90/A-
F & C NETZL
2020 (Göttelsbrunn) Ried Haidacker Zweigelt
Smoky nose. Smoother, more refined than foregoing wines, dark plum fruit, velvet texture. Cork closure. 13.5% stated alcohol. 88/B
Gerhard PIMPEL
2020 (Göttelsbrunn) Ried Rosenberg Zweigelt
Floral, truffle nose. Light-weight body, round, smooth, airy, red currants, dark berries and plums. The wine is labelled Zweigelt, but I believe that there is some Merlot blended in, too. Cork closure. 90/A-
Familie PITNAUER
2020 (Göttelsbrunn) Ried Haidacker Zweigelt
Truffly nose; light body, airy, good elegance and precision to dark berry fruit. Finesse and balance. Cork closure. 90/A-
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF NEW POSTS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT: claude.kolm@gmail.com.