12.16 – 12.18

 

For a printable PDF of this weekend’s notes, click here!

Josef Fischer Gruner Veltliner Federspiel

Origin: Wachau, Austria   
Retail: $29.95 | Sale: $26.96

The Zanzl vineyard covers 7.38 total hectares outside the town of Rührsdorf, with northwest-exposed slopes ranging from 10% to 51% in gradient, and soils of orthogneiss.. Zanzl’s cooler exposition and poorer soils yield a streamlined wine of elegance and intense minerality which veers into blatant salinity in leaner vintages, and Fischer’s 50-year-old vines here contribute impressive concentration to the finished product. Unique nose of ferns, meadow herbs, pear, wet rocks, and that classic white pepper note, slender and expressive medium bodied palate of lemon peel, a hint of yeast, excellent minerality, lip smacking acidity.    

100%  Gruner Veltliner

Peter Lauer  Barrel X Riesling 2021

Origin: Mosel, Germany
Retail:
$22.95 | Sale: $20.66 

“Barrel X” is winemaker Florian Lauer’s Platonic ideal of what a slightly off-dry (feinherb) Saar Riesling should be. If we were in Burgundy, this would be the equivalent of a “Bourgogne Blanc.” As an appellation-level wine, it is sourced from multiple vineyards in four different villages of the Saar: Ayl (Lauer’s home village), Saarburg, Wawern and Wiltingen. Florian says, “From Ayl and Wawern, the wine gains the fruit and power, from Saarburg the racy acidity, and from Wiltingen, the spice.” Crisp and saline finish, flavors of lime leaf and lime cordial, with the juiciness of white peach and nectarine.

100% Riesling

La Croix Gratiot  Rouge Cerise 2021 

Origin: Pays d’Herault, France    
Retail: $17.95 | Sale: $16.16                                  

The Rouse Cerise is fresh and vibrant syrah. The vines are planted on soils of loam and limestone, situated near the village of Montagnac which is near to the Mediterranean Sea. The proximity of the zone to the sea means cool maritime breezes moderate the climate, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and retain good levels of acidity, resulting in fresh and vibrant wines.  Notes of ripe cherry fruit and hints of black pepper on the nose. On the palate, the tannins are smooth and well-balanced with bright acidity. Subtle notes of smoke and sweet spice carry through to the elegant finish.

100% Syrah

White Walnut Estate Pinot Noir 2021

Origin: Dundee, Oregon 
Retail:
$52.95 | Sale: $47.66

White Walnut Estate is a USDA Certified Organic & Demeter Certified Biodynamic vineyard rooted in the epicenter of Oregon’s heralded Dundee Hills. Chris  Mazepink sensed the potential of the property to become one of Oregon’s premier vineyard sites. He and his sons, Archer and Charles, cleared the land in the summer of 2014 and then planted it to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  They preserved the remaining walnut trees on the property that continue to produce fruit and are now well over 70 years old, standing stoic amongst the vines.  Highly detailed aromas of violets, swiss chocolate and raspberry paste ascend from the glass coalescing with notes of red rose petals and dried baking spices. Layer upon layer of blueberries, minerals and lavender cascade across the palate.”

100% Pinot Noir