Other Wines

STK Ried, Südsteiermark, Austria
100 % Chardonnay
13.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2023-09-23 & 2023-09-24

Revisiting Excellence: 2020 Erwin Sabathi Chardonnay Ried Saffran

At the ProWein event, I had the pleasure of discovering the exceptional white wines crafted by Erwin Sabathi from the picturesque Südsteiermark region. Today, we delve into a selection from this esteemed winery, the "2020 Chardonnay Ried Saffran."

Exploring the Senses

As I pour this Chardonnay into my glass, its radiant gold hue with hints of green sets the stage for what's to come. The nose is a captivating blend of primary and secondary aromas. Primary notes include pineapple, white nectarine, and subtle mineral undertones, while hints of physalis and delicate florals add depth to the bouquet.

A Symphony on the Palate

On the palate, it's a delightful symphony of flavors. Vibrant young fruits are harmoniously balanced with refreshing acidity, creating a well-rounded experience. The wine's texture offers a subtle creaminess, enhancing the overall complexity.

Timeless Potential

This Chardonnay is more than just a momentary pleasure; it's a journey through time. While it's delightful to sip now, it carries the promise of further evolution over the next eight years. Imagine the joy of opening a bottle on a special occasion, reliving the moment of discovery.

Perfect Pairing

For a perfect pairing, I recommend serving this Chardonnay with a mildly spiced warm crab dish. The wine's acidity complements the delicate flavors of the crab, creating a memorable dining experience.

In Conclusion

The 2020 Erwin Sabathi Chardonnay Ried Saffran is a testament to the winemaking excellence of Südsteiermark. It's a wine that bridges the past and the future, inviting you to savor the moment.

The Unveiling Continues

The next day, this Chardonnay evolves. Floral notes soften, and the overall profile becomes even fruitier. It's a fascinating transformation that highlights the complexity and depth of this wine, a true expression of winemaking artistry.

Mendoza, Argentina
14.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-23

Medium golden yellow. Ripe apricots and quince. In addition a hint of smoke and honey. Strong with a gentle acidity. Pure vanilla. A little bit like the old California style.

I selected the "Finca Los Nobles" as starter for the Maal tasting (see former entries). It was a very good selection. Our host prepared a nice salmon tartare and the Chardonnay harmonized wonderfully. This was a piece of luck because this big, bold Chard is not so easy to pair. Salmon is in any case a good choice.

Three days later. The wine was kept in the cooler using the preservation system. Now the fat attitude was nearly gone and converted into a quiet smoothness. Incredible and unexpected. Perfect for a lazy late summer afternoon after a hard working day.

Mendoza, Argentina
100 % Malbec (Vistaflores West)
14.6 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-21

Medium cherry red. Fleshy aromas. In addition lots of cocoa and cassis. Together a very harmonious composition of a classical fruit-oriented blockbuster with some nice sideways which raise the wine to a higher level than the usual fruit bombs. This is confirmed on the palate: A concentrated, strong attitude paired with lots of black fruit notes. The finish is long and absolutely beautiful. A high-end wine for nearly any occasion - if you have the money and the relationships to buy enough bottles of this rare beauty.

Paciencia is the icon wine of Maal. It is a Malbec blend of the vintages 2010, 2011 and 2012. During these vintages the Maal people picked the best barrel of Malbec and from the blend of those three barrels the "paciencia" was created. After another year in the bottle the wine was released - only 900 bottles. This means also that this wine is only made every three years.

The potential of the Maal flagship is incredible. Even if the paciencia is already very well drinkable I am quite sure that you can hold it for another ten or fifteen years. For the moment pair it with classical Tournedos Rossini. The relationship between the paciencia and the beef tournedos as well as the foie gras will be amazing.

The next day. A little bit is left in the bottle - and to drink this rest is gorgeous. Now perfectly balanced the paciencia offers in addition a shy velvety. Wonderful.

Mendoza, Argentina
100 % Malbec (Vistaflores West)
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20

Medium, clear ruby red. Intensive aromas of black cherries, black tea and pepper. In addition a touch of smoke coming from the smoker. Very, very fruity. And also in this wine a certain acidity is recognizable. Medium to long finish. Perfectly balanced.

"bestial". What on earth shall this now mean? It's a synonym - for "brutal and tremendous". That's the wines presentation after fermentation. Trying to tame the beast is every year's challenge. Were Matias and Alfredo successful? Yes. As you probably recognized, in contradiction to the Maal wines II to IV and VI, this bottle was tasted only at one day. The reason is simple. I presented to some friends the wines II to VI. And the bestial bottle was totally empty. After 30 minutes...

Only 2,820 bottles were produced from this beautiful beast. The Malbec grapes come from vines that were abandoned for years. It seems that the grapes only wait to rise. You can drink it now or during the next eight years. This is a wine for meat prepared in the "barbarian" way on the BBQ grill.

Mendoza, Argentina
100 % Malbec (Vistaflores West)
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-23

Deep, dark cherry red. Animalistic mix of bacon, blackberries and cherries. In addition some cocoa beans. On the palate warm and fruity. Nice stimulating acidity. Long, very long.

This wine is now the story about the impossibility to produce great and outstanding wines without using traditional oak barrels. Is this really impossible? Maal Wines masterminds Alfredo Merlo and Matias Fraga solved this problem in their very own style: Using French oak staves inside their cement vats! The Escher style label shall exactly symbolize this impossibility as an illusion. OK. Nice idea and story. But does it work?

Definitely. Especially on the third day after opening! Yeah, of course I used the preservation system. Stupid question:-). When you drink the wine now everything is harmonic and very well balanced. You have really the illusion to drink a wine with lots of very well integrated tannins coming from the barrels.

Even if no barrels were used. I believe this impossible wine has a huge potential. Minimum five to six years. Pair it with a BBQ lamb shoulder. Yes, with rosemary.

Mendoza, Argentina
100 % Malbec (Altamira)
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-22

Bright, medium ruby red. Dried red fruit rotates with intensive blackberry aromas. Also a touch of half-sweet drops is noticeable. The taste is amazingly spicy. I didn't expect that from the nose. Certain notes of tea are given which lead to a nice and spicy cassis finish. Really good.

"biolento". What does this mean? It is a funny play of words. The wine honors the small and violent creatures that attack the vineyard and give the winemaker a hard time (and life). With this in mind it makes absolutely sense that the grapes came from non-tilled vineyard where no fertilisers or pesticides are used. I should mention that this vineyard is 95 years old!

Two days later. Now I recognize one of the secrets of the Maal wines. All these wines need time after opening. Really! When we uncorked the wine on Saturday evening the bottle was open for nearly four hours before I closed the bottle again using the preservation system. Now the wine is perfectly balanced. The sweet drops touch is gone and the spiciness together with the blackberries offers a wonderful aroma carpet. Great job, Alfredo and Matias. Drink this beauty over the next five years: Pairing? During my US trips I found a recipe for Chicken Wings with Molasses Barbecue Sauce. An unbelievable pairing.

Mendoza, Argentina
100 % Malbec (Chacras de Coria)
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-21

Medium ruby red. Notes of cherries, cranberries and Christmas spices let arise some warm, winterly feelings. The first sip offers creaminess paired with a spicy touch. At the end of the medium long finish a certain tart austereness is recognizable. Perhaps a little bit one-dimensional compared to the rebelión.

The "biutiful" is fermented in old cement vessels without adding any yeast. The idea behind this wine is the philosophy of an inner beauty. Without using any makeup. Means in this case pure Malbec without doing anything to distract from the pureness. So you have to look inside to find the beauty.

To be honest directly after opening it was difficult to recognize this concept. The wine was a little bit too simple to see the idea of the winemakers. However the next day the picture was better framed. The spicyness was now more present which makes the wine in total more interesting. Perhaps this was intended? So decanting is definitely a very good idea. At least for the moment.

Indeed in contradiction to the usual Malbec food pairing recommendations I would pair the biutiful with a mildly prepared meat dish. Perhaps duck? Drink it in the next three years.

McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
65 % Grenache, 35 % Shiraz
15.5 %
Tasted 2016-07-21

Medium ruby red. Directly after opening black truffles, wet forest floor and a touch of cherries. In total very, very earthy. I write directly after opening because in the next 60 minutes the wine changed dramatically. After thirty minutes the earthy notes were reduced and an austere and masculine but fruity viciousness is dominating. At this moment the Eclipse is on the peak. Unfortunately this does not last long. Another 30 minutes later the wine breaks apart. It smells only gangrenous and for certain moments it seems that only pure alcohol is in the glass. Bummer! And strange. I cannot believe that this transformation really takes place. So another try. And then it becomes crystal clear: The air is the problem. Coming directly from the bottle for around 5 minutes the wine is stable - and really good. After that: Going down in warp speed. So decanting is definitely no good idea:-).

Now the taste. In the five (not fifteen) minutes of fame the Eclipse has a real charming fruitiness and silkiness. In these moments the wine demonstrates perfectly why Drew Noon is a wine making icon in South Australia. But to be honest this is too less for a wine with that approach and in that price range. After a certain while when the alcohol tone becomes more and more pleasant this is reflected also on the palate. And the the medium-long finish becomes awkward.

It has to be said that this is my opinion. Nothing else. So please check out for yourself. If you want to integrate as part of your festive menu, then pair it with the main course, e.g. the Sunday roast. I am quite sure most guests will not recognize the topics I don't like with this wine.

Summarization: Drink now or sell.

Mendoza, Argentina
30 % Malbec Vistaflores, 30 % Malbec Altamira, 40 % Malbec Chacras de Coria
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-07-30 & 2016-07-31

Medium and clear ruby red. Intensive blackberry notes paired with chocolate aromas. At the beginning very earthy but after some hours pure black fruits. On the palate the fruit character is clearly dominating. Besides the blackberries also some cherry impression arises. Together with a nice and charming acidity this Malbec provides a fresh attitude. Summer feeling. The perfect wine - perhaps a little bit cooler served as usual - for a "BBQ on the Lawn" experience. The people from Rancho Nicasio in California know exactly what I am talking about.

rebelión, Rebellion. The name was given by the Maal people because it was the first time that they prepared a Malbec blend from grapes coming from different vineards. So an act of rebellion. A successful act for my opinion.

The wines from Maal are the latest newcomers on the list of one of my German wine merchants, Lucky Wines. The owner of Lucky Wines made a very good avertising for the wines and so I became curious. I ordered a bottle of all six wines from Maal; starting with the entry level blend "rebelión" up to the high-end "paciencia". During the next weeks I will taste and describe all six of them to give a short overview of this winery with the wonderful credo: "We don't just make Malbec. We only make Malbec."

Drink this beauty during the next five years. And all the time during summer time and with burgers from the grill. Then life is - really - good.

Horrheimer Klosterberg, Württemberg, Germany
Cabernet Mitos
13.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-07-17 & 2016-07-19

Medium dark cherry red. Some light rims are demonstrating first signs of maturity. Sour cherries, black pepper, freshly smoked bacon and a touch of dark chocolate. On the palate still fresh with some mint aromas. Then some slight but pleasant bitterness which flows into a long, lemony finish. Still young but very well drinkable at the moment. Waiting another five years no problem. The wine was 36 months in barriques. So this excellent backbone does not come really surprising.

But what on earth is Cabernet Mitos? No problem. Wikipedia knows everything:

Cabernet Mitos is a dark-skinned variety of grape used for red wine. It was created at a grape breeding institute in Weinsberg in the Württemberg wine region, Germany in 1970 by crossing Blaufränkisch and Teinturier du Cher. The previous belief that it was a cross between Blaufränkisch and Cabernet Sauvignon, which even the breeders themselves stated, was corrected in 2013 through a DNA analysis. "Mitos" is the German word for mitosis, a stage in the cell cycle. Cabernet Mitos received varietal protection and was released for general cultivation on January 24, 2001. The vines of Cabernet Mitos show good winter hardiness. ... Cabernet Mitos wines are full bodied and rich in tannin, and are well suited for oak barrel aging. The wines show similarities in aromas to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Two days later. Of course I used the wine saver . Now the bitter notes are totally gone. Very smooth and more similarities to a classical Cab. Indeed it would be interesting to smuggle the wine into a Heitz Cab tasting - after three hours decanting.

Concerning food we paired the Mitos the first day with a classical Chili Mac. Wonderful. The freshness of the wine harmonizes perfectly with the spicyness of this comfort food. Two days later we prepared a special kind of burger - with low carb buns ("Oopsies") made mainly of quark. Works also very well. According to my opinion you should pair this wine directly after opening with spicy Mexican food. Fantastic cross-over.

Châteauneuf du Pape, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
Roussanne
14.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-06-25



Golden yellow. Lots of ripe tropical fruits, beeswax and kumquat. On the palate fresh and very intensive. Extremely strong with a tart, challenging acidity. Neverending finish. Far to the end more fruity.

The white Beaucastel "Vieilles Vignes" consists to 100 % of Roussane grapes. The vines are 70 years old on average. Half of the wine is fermented in steel tanks; the other in 225 l oak barrels. Total production 500 cases per year. Only to provide some facts about this outstanding wine.

Sometimes it is not necessary (and not possible) to write too much about a wine and the corresponding wine experience. This was the case here. No food pairing recommendation. This wine would dominate any kind of food due to its complexity. Also no statement to the aging capability - even if I believe that another ten years would not be a problem. It is quite simple: At this special day during this special moment it was definitely one of the best wines I drunk in my life.

Clos de la Roche, Morey-Saint-Denis, Côte d’Or, Burgundy, France
Pinot Noir
13.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-05-05 & 2016-05-06

Medium, clear ruby red. Intensive aromas of ripe raspberries and redcurrants. Also something viscid and herbaceous is noticeable. Rosemary? Tight and powerful. Tremendously seductive. Still very young, but already grown-up. On the palate fruity with a nice astringent tartness which is floating slowly into a beautiful smooth carpet. Long, very long. Extremely stimulating.

The Clos de la Roche is located on a light increasing eastern slope 880 to 980 ft a.s.l. In the north it borders on Aux Combottes of Gevrey-Chambertin; southward to Clos Saint-Denis. The Appelation Clos de la Roche comprises besides the historical Clos de la Roche (4.56 ha) also Monts-Luisants-Bas, Les Mochamps, Les Froichots, Les Fremières and Les Chabiots. In total Clos de la Roche consists of 110 lots shared by approx. 40 owners. The Domaine Pierre Amiot is the third largest one (approx. 1.2 ha). It is a classical family business. Established five generations ago in Morey-Saint-Denis, Piere Amiot took over responsibility in 1951. In 1980 he shared the leadership with his eldest son Jean-Louis; the youngest son Didier started working at the domaine in 1991. The portfolio is typical for a Burgundy producer: 2 Bourgognes, 3 Villages, 5 Premiers Crus and 2 Grands Crus. From the Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 5,800 bottles were produced.

The next day. The wine is now even more charming. Rounder, more finesse. The herbaceousness is totally gone. So decanting for two hours would be a very good idea. Just at the beginning. The current youthness will remain for two years. Then I would wait minimum another three years before the next try. Total lifetime 15+ years. With respect to Wine-Food-Pairing I recommend at the moment for this beauty a nice plate with regional sausages and cheese. This is - for me - the best way to counterbalance the herbaceous notes. Especially some rustic sausages make the wine even smoother. For a sunny afternoon it is difficult to find anything better.

Maremma, Tuscany, Italy
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-03-27

Bright medium purple red. Aromas of dark cherries, lots of blackberries, leather, cold tobacco and a whole bunch of spices. Full bodied but with a nice soft tone. On the palate fruity and fresh. At the far end the spice notes produce a very pleasant "pins and needle" sensation all over the mouth. Great!

It was the first time that I tasted the Super Tuscan established by Elisabetta Geppetti - and it was a great experience. The wine is - of course - prepared in a very modern style. Already very well drinkable but with a potential of 10 to 15 years. The 2012 vintage was voted by James Suckling by 100 points; this 2013 Saffredi with 96 points. But if you check the "non-professional" critics the consent is clear - the 2013 is the better wine. The German company Unger Weine reflects "Buy before the corresponding ratings will come." Indeed. I will do that.

The 2013 Saffredi is an outstanding, modern Bordeaux-style blend which shows in a dramatic way that you don't have to wait ten or twenty years befor a wine provides great pleasure. For me perhaps the Maremma variant of a Pontet-Canet. Also very hedonistic, but perhaps a little bit more elegant. Pair it with a classical Maremma venison dish. Vacation feeling for sure.

Campo De Borja, Aragon, Spain
16% Alcohol
Tasted 2015-11-29

Deep, nearly impenetrable cherry red. Rich aromas of blackberries and dark cherries. Essences of gingerbread hearts paired with cold tobacco and some sweet BBQ smoke. The high alcohol is already recognizable in the smell. A little bit too much? Let's see. The first sip is gorgeous and with a lot of discrepancies which are wonderfully combined in a long and extremely smooth finish. What do I mean with discrepancies? The wine is on the one hand aggressive due to its youth but on the other hand velvety as a result of the already perfectly integrated alcohol. So the answer is clear - the alcohol is not too high. Next the tannins are clearly present and need to be better integrated in the coming years. But together with the strong smoke taste these tannins develop a great fleshy power which tells you: "Give me a rich BBQ! I can handle...". And indeed this is our plan for dinner. First I will decant this power packet. I will come back after dinner...

Two hours later. My wife prepared a nice pulled pork BBQ which wonderfully harmonises with the wine. In the meantime the Alto Moncayo became smoother, more charming. And the smokiness is transformed into a real fruit bomb. As mentioned the smoke is now a little bit reduced. Instead textures of red fruit jelly are present. This sweetness gives the BBQ the perfect touch. An outstanding pairing! Drink this Garnacha monster in the next five years - or simply open a bottle for the coming Holiday dinner.

Manduria, Apulia, Italy
Primitivo, Syrah, Malvasia Nera
14% Alcohol
Tasted 2015-11-08 & 2015-11-17

Clear medium dark cherry red. Extremely fruity notes of morello cherries with some "Christmas" spices. A touch of sweet pickled fruits. In addition some dark chocolate and cold tobacco. A little bit astringent but this is definitely due to its youth and totally gone after three hours. Very pleasant. So let's see for the taste. On the palate the massive fruit aromas of the wine are exploding and it becomes immediately clear that in the glass in front of me there is an Italian variant of a classical Zin-dominated blend from California - but with less alcohol. This is definitely no traditional Primitivo. The style is New World-oriented - which is not bad, but at the first glance a little bit surprising.

Frequent readers of my blog perhaps remember that I described about one year ago the 2009 Primitivo Di Manduria from Terre di Campo Sasso. As I mentioned this is a joint project of some oenologists with vintners from Apulia and Sicily. If you check the website of the project you can find some interesting facts. More than 200 family-oriented wine growers are part of this project and operate their vineyards strictly according to the notions and directions of the responsable oenologist. The sensational thing here is the fact that exactly in this more traditional area this approach works! And indeed the website also mentions the problems at the beginning, e. g., the resistance to new methods, etc. But if in the end a wine like the Terre Vecchio Vigneto is created only one statement is possible - mission accomplished.

Like the Primitivo Di Manduria the Terre is also available at Johann's Gschmacksach" (http://johanns-gschmacksach.de/) and the price of 16.90 € (17.90 $) is absolutely fair for this beauty. Especially in Christmas time a hot buy and a wonderful present for wine lovers - also the advanced ones. Integrate the wine into your Christmas Day dinner for instance as the accompanying partner for a wonderful roast saddle of venison with cranberry sauce and the Holidays will be really peaceful. No haste - the wine can wait for another three to five years.