This is the kind of primal, fun, juicy wine that gets my blood pumping. Inky dark in color, fresh and herbaceous in aroma, and just pure juicy juice, for lack of a better descriptor, on the palate. It’s 80% Zweigelt, the rest Pinot Noir and Blaufrankisch, a blend that could probably happen nowhere else in the world but Austria. It’s imported by Weygandt-Metzler of Unionville, Pa., and costs $19 a bottle, which may be a bit pricey for a young wine meant to be drunk within the next few years – but I give it props for its intensity and quality. I couldn’t stop sucking it down, and if this were on a restaurant list for under $50 it would probably do very well.
Peter Weygandt, who is known for importing fine French wines, especially Burgundies, has been building an excellent portfolio of Austrian wines in recent years. The 2011 vintage was exceptional in Austria, so I predict we will be seeing and hearing a lot more of Austrian wines over the next few years.
