Hi-Time's Top Wines from Austria
F.X. Pichler is the jewel of the Wachau. The F.X. Pichler family wine estate is now in its seventh generation, with Lucas Pichler taking over since the late 1990’s. Around 1999, Lucas opted out of the Austrian classification system Vinea Wachau, and no longer uses the familiar terms such as Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd. Instead, he favors classification by origin instead of by body weight or style. At all levels, the wines are dry, sleek and elegant with beauty and power. All work is done by hand. They are also CERTIFIED ORGANIC.
JAMES SUCKLING 98 POINTS - "Sensationally fine and elegant for a high-end gruner veltliner, this smells like a whole garden of herbs (don’t forget the sage). Super-racy, cool and stony for this variety with not a hint of the fat that weighs down so many wines of this category. What a stunningly refreshing finish. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold." Stuart Pigott, Senior Editor.
ANTONIO GALLONI VINOUS 95-97 POINTS - "The 2023 Gruner Veltliner Steinertal is on terraces that still have some loess mixed with weathered gneiss in this cool, ventilated site. Green Conference pair and fresh chervil are fragrant, fresh and creamy on the nose, almost with a sense of creamy lemon balm. The palate pushes ahead with its white pepper spiciness and arrow-like freshness. The 2023 is beautifully streamlined, exquisitely fresh, lip-smacking and totally appetizing. (Bone-dry)."
F.X. Pichler is the jewel of the Wachau. The F.X. Pichler family wine estate is now in its seventh generation, with Lucas Pichler taking over since the late 1990’s. Around 1999, Lucas opted out of the Austrian classification system Vinea Wachau, and no longer uses the familiar terms such as Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd. Instead, he favors classification by origin instead of by body weight or style. At all levels, the wines are dry, sleek and elegant with beauty and power. All work is done by hand. They are also CERTIFIED ORGANIC.
JAMES SUCKLING 98 POINTS - "Sensationally fine and elegant for a high-end gruner veltliner, this smells like a whole garden of herbs (don’t forget the sage). Super-racy, cool and stony for this variety with not a hint of the fat that weighs down so many wines of this category. What a stunningly refreshing finish. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold." Stuart Pigott, Senior Editor.
ANTONIO GALLONI VINOUS 95-97 POINTS - "The 2023 Gruner Veltliner Steinertal is on terraces that still have some loess mixed with weathered gneiss in this cool, ventilated site. Green Conference pair and fresh chervil are fragrant, fresh and creamy on the nose, almost with a sense of creamy lemon balm. The palate pushes ahead with its white pepper spiciness and arrow-like freshness. The 2023 is beautifully streamlined, exquisitely fresh, lip-smacking and totally appetizing. (Bone-dry)."
