Monday, February 13, 2012

Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2012

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Franz and Christine Netzl, Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl, Göttlesbrunn. See: Welcome to America: Franz and Christine Netzl Estate , Carnuntum, Austria
and Visiting Christine, Christina and Franz Netzl in their Weingut Netzl in Carnuntum, Austria

The Fallstaff RotweinGuide 2012, a wine guide for Austrian red wine only, was released in December 2011 in Vienna, Austria. In the Fallstaff RotweinGuide 2012, about 1600 wines of 476 Austrian wine makers are described and assessed on 402 pages. This reference for Austrian wine was released for the 15th time by Peter Moser. The focus of the Falstaff RotweinGuide 2012 is on the 2009 vintage. The Falstaff RotweinGuide 2012 awarded prizes in 11 categories.

For previous years see:

Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2010/2011

Wine ratings: Austria - Falstaff Top Red Wines 2009/2010

Austria’s Red Wine Boom


At first thought one might think of Austria’s climate as being quite cool for red wine. In the Alps and the western and northern reaches of the country this tends to be true. The eastern plains that border Hungary and Slovenia, however, are a different story. Yes, Austria has an international reputation for its white wines, but the reds have been improving. Like in Germany, in Austria there has been a revolution going on in terms of red wines in recent years. In both countries, red wine now accounts for about 1/3 of the wine production.

There are 3 key Austrian red grape varieties, although others are also grown, including international grapes. Zweigelt accounts for 9.0 % of Austria’s total production, Blaufraenkisch for 5.5 % and Blauer Portugieser 5.0 %. All other red grape varieties - including the international grapes Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah as well as St. Lauren - are below 2 percent each of Austria’s wine production.

Zwiegelt: The most abundant red grape; makes good wines ranging from simple cherry fruit reds to more substantial reds destined for aging.

Blaufränkisch: Common in Burgenland, this makes spicy, sturdy, berry fruited reds which can have some tannic structure. Probably Austria’s best red grape.

Blauer Portugieser: This red grape makes soft, approachable, juicy wines mainly for early consumption. The most widely planted red grape but not for top quality wines.

St. Laurent: Came from France in the mid-19th century, and seems to have substantial Pinot Noir parentage. It makes soft, slight herby, expressive reds; it’s a bit like Pinot Noir.

The 3 Falstaff Winners 2011

These are the 3 overall winners, with the highest scores (Punkte).

Platz 1 - 96 Punkte Bela Rex 2009 Cabernet Sauvginon and Merlot Weingut Gesellmann, Deutschkreutz (Burgenland)

Platz 2 - 95 Punkte Cupido beauté éternelle 2009 Blaufraenkisch Weingut J. Heinrich, Deutschkreutz (Burgenland)

Platz 3 - 95 Punkte Fam Steurer 2009 Blaufraenkisch, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah Weingut HST – Hannes Steurer, Jois (Burgenland)

VIG + Falstaff Reserve Trophy 2011

This award is for wines that have spent more time aging before being released.

Platz 1 - 95 Punkte Blaufränkisch Point 2008 Weingut Kollwentz, Großhöflein (Burgenland)

Platz 2 - 95 Punkte»G« 2007 Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent Weingut Gesellmann, Deutschkreutz (Burgenland)

Platz 3 - 95 Punkte Blaufränkisch Tannenberg 2008 Weingut Anita und Hans Nittnaus, Gols (Burgenland)

ZWEIGELT-GRAND-PRIX 2011

Platz 1 - 91 Punkte Zweigelt 2010 Weingut Zantho, Andau (Burgenland)

Platz 2 - 91 Punkte Zweigelt Prädium 2010 Weingut Erich Scheiblhofer, Andau (Burgenland)

Platz 3 - 91 Punkte Zweigelt Rubin Carnuntum 2010 Weingut Taferner, Göttlesbrunn (Niederösterreich)

DIE SORTENSIEGER

Blaufränkisch:
95 Punkte - Cupido beauté éternelle 2009, Weingut J. Heinrich, Deutschkreutz (Burgenland)

Cabernet Sauvignon: 94 Punkte - Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Weingut Kollwentz, Großhöflein (Burgenland)

Cuvée: 96 Punkte - Bela Rex 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,Weingut Gesellmann, Deutschkreutz (Burgenland)

Merlot: 94 Punkte - Merlot 2009, Weingut Juliana Wieder, Neckenmarkt (Burgenland)

Pinot Noir
: 94 Punkte - Pinot Noir Reserve 2009, Weingut Schneider, Tattendorf (Niederösterreich)

St. Laurent: 94 Punkte - St. Laurent Rosenberg 2009, Weingut Pittnauer, Gols (Burgenland)

Syrah: 94 Punkte - Syrah Schüttenberg 2009, Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl, Göttlesbrunn (Niederösterreich)

Zweigelt: 93 Punkte - Zweigelt Haidacker 2009, Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl, Göttlesbrunn (Niederösterreich)

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Welcome to America: Franz and Christine Netzl Estate, Carnuntum, Austria

Lunch with Silvia Prieler, Weingut Prieler, Schuetzen am Gebirge, Austria

Producing Wines in Austria and Hungary - Franz and Franz Reinhard Weninger

With the WienWein Winemakers in Vienna in the Heurigen Drinking Gemischter Satz Wine

Schiller’s Favorite Spots to Drink Wine in Vienna, Austria

Tasting Leo Hillinger Red Wines with Leo Hillinger’s Assistant Winemaker Michael Hoeffken and US Importer Klaus Wittauer

Visit: Gerhard Wohlmuth sen. and his Weingut Wohlmuth in Austria

Visiting Leo Hillinger, Michael Hoeffken and Edgar Brutler at the Leo Hillinger Winery in Jois, Austria

Wine Producer Austria - Not Only Gruener Veltliner

Austria’s Best Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff WeinGuide 2011

At the Forefront of Biodynamic Winemaking: Visiting Werner and Angela Michlits and their Weingut Meinklang in Austria

Visiting Christine, Christina and Franz Netzl in their Weingut Netzl in Carnuntum,

A Wedding and a Wine Tasting at Schloss Halbturn in Austria

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