| Vintage | Score | Drink Window | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2021 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA long, dry, picture-perfect harvest allowed vintners to achieve optimal ripeness ideally balanced by crisp acidity. The best examples show beautiful fruit purity underscored by minerality, with great depth, intensity and cellar potential, yet without feeling heavy; characterized as a “Grüner Veltliner vintage,” but with many outstanding Rieslings and reds as well (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionA long, dry, picture-perfect harvest allowed vintners to achieve optimal ripeness ideally balanced by crisp acidity. The best examples show beautiful fruit purity underscored by minerality, with great depth, intensity and cellar potential, yet without feeling heavy; characterized as a “Grüner Veltliner vintage,” but with many outstanding Rieslings and reds as well (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2020 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA cool vintage in contrast with recent warm years. Spring frosts reduced yields–particularly in the Wachau–and rain made for a challenging harvest. Quality is variable, but top growers crafted many beautifully structured, elegant and ageworthy wines, with high acid levels and good balance. Growers characterize this as a “classic” vintage with lower alcohol levels and high-toned aromatics (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionA cool vintage in contrast with recent warm years. Spring frosts reduced yields–particularly in the Wachau–and rain made for a challenging harvest. Quality is variable, but top growers crafted many beautifully structured, elegant and ageworthy wines, with high acid levels and good balance. Growers characterize this as a “classic” vintage with lower alcohol levels and high-toned aromatics (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2019 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA cool spring and warm summer, with ample water for the vines and an ideal September, add up to aromatic and balanced whites, with complexity and finesse (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionA cool spring and warm summer, with ample water for the vines and an ideal September, add up to aromatic and balanced whites, with complexity and finesse (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2018 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWarm summer, with a generous crop, produced ripe, concentrated whites that are very friendly and approachable now, with the best showing the acidity and freshness to age gracefully (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionWarm summer, with a generous crop, produced ripe, concentrated whites that are very friendly and approachable now, with the best showing the acidity and freshness to age gracefully (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2017 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionFavorable weather conditions led to ripe, concentrated whites that retained acidity; the reds are ripe but balanced, with good complexity and aging potential (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionFavorable weather conditions led to ripe, concentrated whites that retained acidity; the reds are ripe but balanced, with good complexity and aging potential (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2016 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA challenging vintage, with a small crop. Top growers sacrificed quantity for quality, delivering charming wines with immediate appeal; the best are ageworthy (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionA challenging vintage, with a small crop. Top growers sacrificed quantity for quality, delivering charming wines with immediate appeal; the best are ageworthy (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2015 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionAugust rains relieved a hot, dry summer, with ideal harvest weather resulting in ripe, complex wines that combine power and grace, proving even better than they initially appeared; Burgenland reds are structured and flavorful (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionAugust rains relieved a hot, dry summer, with ideal harvest weather resulting in ripe, complex wines that combine power and grace, proving even better than they initially appeared; Burgenland reds are structured and flavorful (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2014 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionThick-skinned Grüner did best in a growing season plagued by rain; Riesling affected by grey rot. Only the most careful vintners harvested healthy grapes (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionThick-skinned Grüner did best in a growing season plagued by rain; Riesling affected by grey rot. Only the most careful vintners harvested healthy grapes (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2013 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionVintners needed to work hard to overcome a wet harvest, with a small crop yielding open-textured, powerful and rich-tasting whites from the best vineyard sites (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionVintners needed to work hard to overcome a wet harvest, with a small crop yielding open-textured, powerful and rich-tasting whites from the best vineyard sites (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2012 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionHard frost in the spring and drought cut yields. Creamy, full-bodied Grüners; well-structured Rieslings (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionHard frost in the spring and drought cut yields. Creamy, full-bodied Grüners; well-structured Rieslings (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2011 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionAn easy-to-drink vintage with open-knit Grüner Veltliners; Kremstal performs well (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionAn easy-to-drink vintage with open-knit Grüner Veltliners; Kremstal performs well (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2010 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA cool, difficult growing season delivered taut Rieslings and plush Grüner Veltliners; Kremstal performs well (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionA cool, difficult growing season delivered taut Rieslings and plush Grüner Veltliners; Kremstal performs well (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2009 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionFresh-tasting Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners that are primed to age well (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionFresh-tasting Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners that are primed to age well (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2008 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCool and wet summer, but ideal weather at harvest. Monumental Rieslings from the Wachau; lean, powerful Grüner Veltliners (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionCool and wet summer, but ideal weather at harvest. Monumental Rieslings from the Wachau; lean, powerful Grüner Veltliners (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2007 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionBracing acidity and fresh minerality; slightly better for Riesling than Grüner. Excellent cellar potential (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionBracing acidity and fresh minerality; slightly better for Riesling than Grüner. Excellent cellar potential (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2006 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionImmense structures, with intense fruit and minerality (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionImmense structures, with intense fruit and minerality (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2005 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCreamy and rich; ripe Rieslings and viscous Grüners (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionCreamy and rich; ripe Rieslings and viscous Grüners (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2004 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionEasygoing and fruity, with good structure (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionEasygoing and fruity, with good structure (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2003 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionVery ripe and full-bodied; a drought vintage (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionVery ripe and full-bodied; a drought vintage (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2002 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionRipe, pure flavors despite flooding rains (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionRipe, pure flavors despite flooding rains (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2001 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionFull-bodied Grüners and dense Rieslings (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionFull-bodied Grüners and dense Rieslings (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended
A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.
Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.
SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR
