Nigl Gruner Veltliner Alte Reben 2007
Martin Nigl is among the elite of Austrian winemakers – Terry Theise compared the eerie clarity of his wines to a pianist “where you can hear his fingerprints on the keys”. This 2007 has been praised as the best vintage ever for this top site in the Kremstal, “scalpel-clean…a superb masterpiece” showing all of the unique scents of Gruner, including rosemary, mint, and caraway. Gruners are those rare white wines that can improve for 20 years, and the chance to drink a bottle that has some age is a special treat.
Wine review by PD, September 2012
Nigl 2007 Alte Reben Gruner Veltliner
Seashells and citric spice curve into curlicue limestone lime sensations akin to those living Chablis you care to hold in your mouth more than most wines. This is embellished and rococo and yet polished with an exotic almost papaya nuance above green pears and citrus peels. Oily yet firm, this is inviting despite its vivacious structure and it is still intellectual beyond the fruit’s nonchalant first impression. Tasted beside the 2006 I am in awe over the life and engaging personality here –like a younger brother who might not be as responsible or even proper as its elder sibling but sharp witted nonetheless with a light in its playful eye; this wine is mischievous. For table talk, Nigl rhymes with eagle and Alte Reben means “old vine” which is probably how this mineral depth of loess is achieved .
Wine review by Nicholas Livingston, August 2012
“The best vintage of this wine in at least 8-10 years, and a superb masterpiece. Bless the “normal” vintage! Toasted greens in a pointed, clinging palate; caraway, marvelous precision and focus, not as sapid as the Piri but more roasted; cracklings from pork roast, the crisp slices of ‘tater in the gratin; everything scalpel-keen and with such penetration of rosemary-mint you swear it clears your sinuses.”
Tasting note by Terry Thiese
Food Pairings
Anything that "stinks up your house when you are cooking it," Terry Theise. Asian food, ham, smoked meats or fish.
