2010 Loimer Kamptal Riesling – 22.97 – BD. Juicy, more up-front fruit. Pretty, white peach & floral aromatics. Balanced acidity & sweetness from the fruit, mineral structure, lemon zest, Granny Smith malic acid, delicate, refreshing. Growing out of Gneiss and loess. Smells of lemon juice & wet stones. In the mouth the wine is quite bright & juicy with flavors of wet stone, lemon juice. Electric acidity makes the flavors explosive, & a chalky finish brings in floral notes. Juicy. Dry.

2011 Loimer “Lois” Grüner Veltliner – 15.97 – Contract fruit – More ripe vintage, Since 2001. Mineral, bright. Nice intro, clean, classic, warmer. Launched in 1999, best selling Grüner Veltliner (sales dollars). Smells of green apple and wet stones. In the mouth the wine offers bright green apple flavors & floral character & minerals. Notes of lemon zest linger in the finish. Straightforward & friendly.

2011 Weininger Gemischter Satz – 22.57 – BD. Vienna’s Bisamberg vineyards, , 2000 acre. Next to the Danube. Limestone, low clay content. Fossilized coral reef from the Tertiary period. Field blend – Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Neuberger (Roter Veltliner X Sylvaner), Traminer, Chardonnay – Indigenous yeast, stainless. Citrus, yellow flowers, pineapples, sweet herbs. Complex & spicy, mineral fruit. Lively acid. Ripe grapes in great shape. Mainly from Bisamberg because of hail damage in Nussberg for this vintage. Lychee, pear, tangy acid.

2011 Heinrich Red – 17.97 – No pumping. Zweigelt, Blaufrankish, St. Laurent. Stainless, used big casks. Good vintage, no rot, no disease. The Blaufrankish yields notes of red fruit such as raspberries and red cherries while the back bone of this blend, Zweigelt amplify the raspberries, a light note of cassis and pepper. The Saint Laurent yields a open delicate fleshiness that gives a sensation of silkiness.

 Estacada Vinanza 4 month in Barrel Cabernet – Tempranillo 2008 – 10.97 – Tierra de Castilla – This is the expression of the grape with its deep colour an fruit. It has a modern type monovarietal wine character, with an intense cherry edge and a violet shade. Its bouquet is powerful, rich in edges of ripe blackberry with a great fruity taste that reminds jam. It is meaty in mouth, with a deep flavour to black wild fruits with tasty and ripe tannins.

Estacada 6 month in Barrel Tempranillo 2010 – 14.57 – Concentrated ruby colors showed in the glass with a vibrant red rim and aromas of ripe raspberry, violets, smokey caramel, and a slight bubblegum tone on this 6 month barrel aged Tempranillo. Despite the oak aging, this wine was well integrated and the dominant character was a fresh, brambly black cherry character, with underlying smoke tones and a warming finish of baking spice.

Chateau Beynat Cuvee Leonard 2008 – 24.97 – Organic. Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, Clay and Limestone soils, 45 year old viness, 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, Intense and complex nose of ripe black fruit, oak and notes of spices. Velvety smooth on the palate. Intense and complex nose of ripe black fruit, oak and notes of spices & black olive. Velvety smooth on the palate with a long, supple finish. Only 1 year to go for the vineyard to be certified organic by Ecocert of France. This wine is extremely limited.

Chateau Beynat Cuvee Leonard 2009 – 24.97 – Organic. Derek Smedley – MW – There is a lot of power on the palate, ripe fruits backed by slightly fresher red cherry and raspberry. The tannins feel ripe emphasizing the richness of the fruit and leaving the back palate feeling quite lush. Young, still a little tight for the warm year, medium body with dark plum & berries, fresh, young tannins. Will improve greatly with another year in the bottle to calm down a bit. Great vintage. Now certified organic by Ecocert of France.