Dec 07 2009
Wine of the Week: 2007 Prager Wachstum Bodenstein Smaragd Riesling
Austrian Wine Month recently came to a close, but Andy and I are still stocking up on and enjoying some Austrian gems- from the famous Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners to the lesser known reds, such as the Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch varietals. We have discovered some truly exceptional wines, and we learned that a classic Austrian Riesling (dry not syrupy sweet) was a huge crowd pleaser at our recent family gathering. It pairs so nicely with so many of our holiday dishes, and it was the first bottle to empty at our Thanksgiving dinner. So, our wine of the week is the 2007 Prager Wachstum Bodenstein Smaragd Riesling….
We were blown away by its complexity (slight residual sugar so nicely balanced with clear minerality and crisp citrus). We looked it up online and were not at all surprised to learn that this wine earned a 94 rating in Wine Advocate and a 92 rating in Wine Spectator. It really is the perfect white if you have many guests with different tastes and you’re looking for something to please every palate (not too acidic, not too bold, not too buttery, not too dry, and not too sweet). We also tried out some insanely delicious Austrian dessert wines (and I’m the type that normally sticks to Sauternes)… so stay tuned.
Wined & Dined’s Quick Tasting Notes
Wine: 2007 Prager Riesling Smaragd Klaus
Vintage: 2007
Varietal(s): Riesling
Region: Wachau
Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: ~ $40
Color/Appearance: Light yellow with some subtle green tones.
Nose/Aroma: Honeydew, peach, slight tropical yellow/green fruit.
Mouth/Flavors: This wine had a delicious crisp, light sweetness but the mineral tones really balance the residual sugar effectively. I tasted some pineapple and banana juxtaposed to slight lemon tones and a bright acidic structure. A truly beautiful full white.
Conclusion: This is not something Andy and I would pop open every night if it was just the two of us (as we try to stick to real bargain bottles during the week), but we would love to do it nonetheless. It is not an extreme white in any direction, but a really classic and complex Austrian Riesling, and that is why I found it to be a true crowd pleaser. This can also stay cellared for at least 10 years, and I am looking forward to tasting how it develops in the future. Cheers!
