Degustazione, Gruner Veltliner, Merano Wine Fest 2013

Merano Wine Festival 2013

Saturday November 9, 2013

Hotel Terme Merano 

Degustazione Master Class

Emmerich Knoll, Wachau, GrÜner Veltliner 1970-2009

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a guided vertical tasting, so I thought it was time to do so.   I booked my place 2 months before the event.  Good thing because I checked the attendance count 3 weeks later and it was almost completely booked.  I believe 60 total was the limit, and it was a good crowd, not too many not to few.  What really impressed me was the level of people in the tasting.  The tasters were distinguished French winemakers, critics, writers, bloggers, and us of course.  My husband, hobby sommelier and business partner, Doreen, great friend, hobby sommelier, and Natasha another great friend, and wine aficionado, who likes to remain anonymous.

Ian D'Agata, Emmerich Knoll and the translator

I couldn’t have picked a better place, wine or tasting guide to have done it with.

I chose this wine because of the year, being a seventies girl I wanted to try a wine from the year in which I was born.  The first and only disappointment of the tasting was that the 1970 GrÜner did not show up!  Did not show up, kind of like attendance in school.  Where it was remained undisclosed, but it did not make it in my glass and I was very disappointed about this.

The tasting was lead by wine expert, Ian D’Agata

who made the usual dry and boring wine tasting into a very entertaining hour.  He’s just a funny guy, who doesn’t try to be funny.  He engages everyone to be a part of the tasting and is very knowledgeable about wine and languages.

My tasting notes are as follows

FYI, In my personal tasting notes I do a 1-4 star rating, 4 being amazing.  No stars means it didn’t do much for me and a – means I wouldn’t drink it again.

1.     2012 which they said was a good year for GrÜner   ★                           

comes from sandy soil vineyard

2.         2012 Smarag late harvest with 14% alcohol                                                         ★

3.         2010 Lowenberg, this is their most famous vineyard, which is 5-6 years old

very aromatic, green olive 13,5% alcohol                                                            ★★

4.         2009 Loibner, a very high level of hand selected grapes 14% alcohol           ★★

5.         2008                            ★

6.         2001 Schutt, a vineyard located between two valleys in a very cold zone

            more refined. Smokey                                                                                            ★★

7.         1999 Smarag Selezione Vinotek, this Vinotek Label is meant to age longer.

8.         1997 Schutt ★

Loibenberg is better in cooler years

Schutt is better in hotter years

9.         1993 Loibner Schutt Federspiel

            Smalto (wet paint or nail polish)     ok

10.       1991 Smaragd Loibner "Reid Loibenberg" ok

11.       Beerenauslese ★★

Cantina Alois Lageder

South Tyrol wine road sign

the road on the way to the winery

main gate to the winery

the small town

Picasso style art

happy to be here

a rose is a rose

mixed oak barrels

Austrian Oak

French Oak

main dining area

open bar prep space, clean essential and sturdy

enjoying the company

Tasting Notes

1.     2012 Haberle, Pinot Bianco, convenzionale

clean, soft acidity

2.     2012, Gaun Chardonnay biological

light, fresh

3.    2012 Lehen, Sauvignon convenzionale

quite floral with citrus notes                                               ★★

4.     2012 Beta Delta, Pinot Grigio & Chardonnay biological

nice nose                                                                         ★

5.     2012 Rain, (love the name) Riesling convenzionale

bellissimo! Very floral, freisa                                            ★★★

6.     2012 Vogelmaier, Moscato Giallo convenzionale           ★★

Maso, casa di montagna

7.     2011 Amsand (name of the vineyard), Gewurztraminer biological

sweet nose, honey, smells sweet but finishes dry, chick wine

8.    2002 Amsand

green olives, smalto.  Still drinking well

9.     2011 Cason Hirschprunn, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay & Viogner

needs more time, you can still smell the wood.             ★

10. 2009 Cason Doreen liked it.                               ★

11.  2010 Lowengang, Chardonnay biological                      ★★

like a blend of Chassagne Montrachet & Chablis biological

12.  2012 Oberingram St. Magdalener (name of the vineyard), Schiava & Lagrein

light typical red of Northern Italy

13. 2009 Krafuss, Pinot Noir                                          ★★★

Strawberry with a smokey finish

14.  2009 Lindenburg, Lagrein  

too tight, needs time, maybe 3 years

15.  2009 Cason, Merlot, Cabernet, Lagrein & Petit Verdot

balsamic notes, old barrels ok

16.  2009 Lowengang, Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon

classic profumo. Graziano & Natasha liked it, I didn’t.

17.  2011 MMXI, Merlot from 50 year old vines                      ★

18. 2008 Cor Romigberg, Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit Verdot

red bell peppers, very vegetable, nice                ★★

19.  2011 Rosenmuskateller, Moscato Rosa               

the nose smells like roses                                      ★★

so many wonderful wines to try

french style courtyard outside tasting room

the reds

simplicity works

bread and crackers

gnocchi

risotto with taleggio, yummm!

steak and potatoes is true comfort food

calm colors, with glass ceramic and wood

venison salad for me, it was all about deer this weekend

fresh flowers add a touch of life and nature

transparency is important in all aspects of life

Sissi Restaurant, Merano

Friday night had reservations at the highly acclaimed Sissi Restaurant owned by Andrea Fenoglio.

We made reservations for the second seating at 9 p.m. about 2 months in advance.

We felt the tension of the restaurant the moment we walked in the door.  We were sat in the far corner of the dining room.  The head waitress offered us an aperitivo, which was served with absolutely no personality.  Andrea came to the table and greeted us with the minimal attention needed.

All in all the food was good, the deserts nothing special and the service had a lot to be desired.

This was the second time we ate here and we found the menu to be very much like it was over 3 years ago. I guess it was just a bad night, I hope.

place setting

liquid pizza

main entree

venison

desert

great company

Hotel Terme Merano 2013

literature options with alternative beliefs, a good thing

dog friendly hotel with all the comforts of home

I am drinking a martini in a margarita glass but....

Merano town center from the hotel

fun with friends

elegant modern lobby

aperitivo time

Merano wine festival 2013
This year marks my 2 nd Merano Wine Festival and now I'm thinking about making it an annual event.
We had the luxury of driving up the day before the 1st day, which was a nice way to get acclimated in the luxurious town of Merano.
Merano is a mix of German Italian where the German definitely prevails in the organizational part of the town and the Italian comes out in some of the style and food quality. It is always a pleasure to go to this town and festival.
For our lodging we chose the Merano Hotel Terme, again for the second time, and it didn't let us down. This time we got a room

our room

on the 3 rd floor, in a standard double room that faced the inner courtyard of the hotel. From our room we could see the steeple of the church and some small perfectly manicured vineyards and tips of snow covered mountains in the background. Absolutely stunning autumn colors of the dark brown mountains with crisp white snow randomly covering the coldest parts, and bright mustard yellow leaves of the vineyards.