Wine and beer reviews without the snobby aftertaste

Winery: Hirsch
Brand/Type: Zobing Riesling
Vintage: 2000
Country: Austria
Region: Kamptal
Alcohol content: 12%
Closure: Synthetic
Appearance: Pale straw
Aroma/Bouquet: Musty sweet silage, pears

As many Austrian Rieslings go, this one has a unique character compared to most German Rieslings. With a distinct, yet not overbearing oaking, Hirsch offers a Riesling that maintains an old world sensibility but with their own unique style. The oak takes away any overly sweet flavor that many German Rieslings are known for but yet still maintaining a degree of syrupy texture. It has a fruity taste, apricot and pears mostly but the oak and acidity tend to cut into the fruit flavors. Not much mineral but again, a definite abundance of acidity. This is a Jekyll and Hyde wine for certain. Perhaps time has been cruel to this and it would have been better drunk young?

This isn’t a Riesling with a crisp, clean finish but it’s definitely not a soda pop like one either. If you can’t make your mind up between a dry Kabinet or a sweet Auslese, this could be your pick.

Winery: Heidi Schröck
Brand/Type: Muscat
Vintage: 2000
Country: Austria
Region: Burgenland
Alcohol content: 13%
Closure: Natural Cork
Appearance: Pale straw, almost clear
Aroma/Bouquet: Floral

Forget what you think you know about Muscat. Most will associate this grape with sweet aperitifs; not so in this case. Heidi Schröck delivers a dry, yes dry, Muscat. It is very aromatic with a strong floral aroma.

This is a complex wine that wanders nicely across palate, dry and velvety, good acidity with a wonderful mineral element with a strong crisp finish. This is definitely not syrupy or sweet.

This is well respected winery worth searching for at your local wine seller. Searching out aged vintages from her may not be easy but it is definitely rewarding!