Nick Dobson Wines Austrian Sweet Wines

The UK's best Best Selection of Sweet Wines from Austria
Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, Ausbruch, Schilfwein, Eiswein - we have them all. Even some sweet red wines! Austria has some of the best sweet wines on earth, from one of the most remarkable places in the world for botrytis-affected wine - the Neusiedlersee, a shallow warm steppe lake of about 60 square miles, located in the warmest part of Austria, straddling the Austro-Hungarian border. The lake's micro-climate is key to the wine's production; the environment around it is flat, marshy, and humid, and nowhere else, with the possible exception of Hungary's Tokajhegyalja, does the noble rot, Botrytis Cinerea, attack grapes so reliably. Here are made wonderful Auslese, Beerenauslese (BA), Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA), Schilfwein made from grapes dried on straw or reed beds, and obscure noble Ausbruch wines, which are exotic, full, luscious, and which go on forever. Also here, and from elsewhere in Austria, are found magnificent Eisweins. These sweet wines are simply amazing, and if you're an afficianado of dessert wines, and you have not tasted Austrian sweet wines, they are screaming out to be tried. Grapes for these sweet wines tend to be grown on the narrow strip of land between the water's edge and the lakeside road, as it is here that the Botrytis cinerea fungus attacks the grapes reliably in most years; cross the road and it is much less reliable, so grapes for dry reds and whites are grown further from the lake shore. TBAs and Ausbruch are incredibly long-lived wines; 30-40 years is generally not unusual, and one of our suppliers, reckons some will go 100 years. These truly are some of the finest dessert wines made in the entire world. We include in our range wines from some well-known makers, but also a handful of producers who are barely knowm outside Austria yet who deserve better recognition. Our suppliers are principally based in Burgenland - but we do also have a few wines from other districts. Botrytis wines are not so common in other parts of Austria, but Eiswein is made quite widely and there are some splendid examples from other districts.

Trockenbeerenauslese 1998 37.5cl Élixir de Pinot Weingut Franz Klein Illmitz
Ref: 4330002

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A TBA from 100% Pinot Gris, this wine has a lovely dark amber gold, and a fabulous powerful nose of botrytis, honey and caramel. On the palate it is rich, sumptuous, with very full body, lush sweetness, with honey, a hint of caramel, and tropical fruits - guava, passion fruit. This wine is very refined and one of the best stickies in our range; truly amazing stuff. It was awarded 96 points in a tasting at the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago; Franz likes to point out that they used the words "Superlative" and "addictive" in their description. And rightly so.

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Price: £27.60 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Trockenbeerenauslese 1998 37.5cl Élixir de Pinot Weingut Franz Klein Illmitz

Auslese 2003 37.5cl Welschriesling Josef Lentsch Podersdorf/See
Ref: 4330034

This is from a vineyard very near to the shores of the Neusiedlersee. A very pale golden yellow, it has a sweet herbal nose, with a racy sweet honeyed palate, and good length. Really nice and excellent value.

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Price: £12.00 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Beerenauslese 2003 37.5cl Pinot Gris Josef Lentsch Podersdorf/See
Ref: 4330039

This BA is a 100% Pinot Gris wine; it has a clean light gold colour, with honey and smoky botrytis on the nose. On the palate it's both opulent and elegant, with rich sweetness, and hints of grapefruit and caramel. Viscous, with good length, with a nice streak of acidity coming through on the finish.

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Price: £16.20 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Beerenauslese 2004 37.5cl Pinot Gris Josef Lentsch Podersdorf/See
Ref: 4330040

Very like the '03.

This BA is a 100% Pinot Gris wine; it has a clean light gold colour, with honey and smoky botrytis on the nose. On the palate it's both opulent and elegant, with rich sweetness, and hints of grapefruit and caramel. Viscous, with good length, with a nice streak of acidity coming through on the finish.

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Trockenbeerenauslese 2001 37.5cl Pinot Blanc/Chardonnay/Pinot Gris Josef Lentsch Podersdorf/See
Ref: 4330038

This TBA is a blend of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. It has a beautiful light golden sheen, and a powerful, honeyed nose, with hints of peach and grapefruit aromas. On the palate it is viscous, rich and luscious, unctuously sweet, with barley-sugar, honey, and nutty flavours, with citrus hints. Trmendous length, and huge aging potential - this is the wine that Josef Lentsch reckons will keep 100 years. Deeply impressive wine. Was 290114. 13% ABV.

Click on MORE to see a tasting note for this wine by Tom Cannavan.

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Trockenbeerenauslese 2002 37.5cl Pinot Blanc/Welschriesling/Pinot Gris Josef Lentsch Podersdorf/See
Ref: 4330037

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TN in preparation.

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Trockenbeerenauslese 2002 37.5cl Pinot Blanc/Welschriesling/Pinot Gris Josef Lentsch Podersdorf/See

Trockenbeerenauslese 2002 37.5cl Welschriesling Josef Lentsch Podersdorf/See
Ref: 4330035

This wine is made from grapes from the same vineyard as used for the Lentsch Auslese, with a selection of grapes for each. A deep golden hue, with a powerful nose of botrytis, honey, and spice - cinnamon and cloves. On the palate it is unctuously sweet, warming, with toffee, caramel, and tropical fruit flavours, swathed in rich honey. Huge length, spicy and honeyed. 8.0% ABV.

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Trockenbeerenauslese 2003 37.5cl Welschriesling
Josef Lentsch Podersdorf/See
Ref: 4330036

TN in preparation. 12.5% ABV

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Trockenbeerenauslese 2005 37.5cl Welschriesling Josef Lentsch Podersdorf/See
Ref: 4330033

This wine is made from grapes from the same vineyard as used for the Lentsch Auslese, with a selection of grapes for each. A deep golden hue, with a powerful nose of botrytis, honey, and spice - cinnamon and cloves. On the palate it is unctuously sweet, warming, with toffee, caramel, and tropical fruit flavours, swathed in rich honey. Huge length, spicy and honeyed. 8.0% ABV. .

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Beerenauslese 2005 37.5cl Zierfandler Weingut Spaetrot-Gebeshuber Gumpoldskirchen
Ref: 4340033

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TN in preparation.

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Trockenbeerenauslese 2004 37.5cl Zierfandler Weingut Spaetrot-Gebeshuber Gumpoldskirchen
Ref: 4340026

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The Zierfandler grape, one of the world's rarest commercially grown varieties, thrives in the Gumpoldskirchen region like nowhere else in the world, due to the combination of soil and the extraordinary Thermenregion climate. A 100% Zierfandler TBA is a rarity indeed; this excellent example has a deep amber colour with red tinges. The nose is rich, with spice, with notes of stone fruit. On the lush palate again there is spice, with a sweetness matched by a fine racy acidity. The finish is exceptionally long, with persistent fruit and spice. Goes well on it's own, with sweet desserts, and exceptionally well with strong blue cheeses. Drink at 10-12 degrees C. Storage potential - 50 years+. Falstaff 92-94 points.

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Price: £42.00 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Eiswein 2005 37.5cl Frühroter Veltliner Weingut Spaetrot-Gebeshuber Gumpoldskirchen
Ref: 4340034

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The varietal Frühroter Veltliner most probably originated in Gumpoldskirchen. It ripens early and is therefore in contrast to the Zierfandler (late red) called fruehrot (early red). the ’frührote veltliner’ is a fruity, powerful wine with a bit of spice and hints of almonds. Color: strong yellow with golden reflexes. Exotic fruit notes and a temperamental acidity structure give this ice wine its icy-clear character. It stands out through its elegant primary aromas, harmonious structure on the palate and a very long, fruit-driven finish.

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Trockenbeerenauslese 1998 37.5cl Grüner Veltliner Dinstlgut Loiben
Ref: 4300016

***

This TBA has an intense golden colour, and a complex nose with concentrated botrytis, camomile and herb aromas. On the palate there is a luscious nectar-like sweetness, nicely balanced by the natural acidity, and backed up by vibrantly concentrated fruit. The long lingering finish is piquant, and dominated by dried fruit. Serve at around 10 °C with sweet fruit or cream desserts. Maturation Potential: over 50 years. ABV: 11.5 % Residual sugar: 213 g/l Acidity: 10.1 g/l

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Trockenbeerenauslese 1998 37.5cl Grüner Veltliner Dinstlgut Loiben

Beerenauslese 2007 37.5cl Welschriesling/Weissburgunder Heidi Schröck Weinbau Heidi Schröck, Rust
Ref: 4330055

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A lovely BA made from Pinot Blanc and Welschriesling; a limpid pale golden yellow, with white flowers, a hint of yeast, and botrytis on the nose. On the palate it's warm and sumptuous, with lots of honey, a little citrus, and it's immensely long - with some hints of walking through cornfields and freshly baked bread. A slightly herbal note on the finish. A lovely drink - on it's own, or with sweet puddings. A super wine from one of Austria's top sweet-wine producers. Fantastic value for money for wine of this quality.

Tiny quantity remains.

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Beerenauslese 2007 37.5cl Welschriesling/Weissburgunder Heidi Schröck Weinbau Heidi Schröck, Rust

Beerenauslese 2008 37.5cl Welschriesling/Weissburgunder Heidi Schröck Weinbau Heidi Schröck, Rust
Ref: 4330078

* *

A very similar wine to the '07 BA; again a blend of Pinot Blanc and Welschriesling; a limpid pale golden yellow, with white flowers, a hint of yeast, and botrytis on the nose. On the palate it's warm and sumptuous, with lots of honey, a little citrus, and it's immensely long - with some hints of walking through cornfields and freshly baked bread. A slightly herbal note on the finish. A lovely drink - on it's own, or with sweet puddings. A super wine from one of Austria's top sweet-wine producers. Fantastic value for money for wine of this quality.

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Beerenauslese 2008 37.5cl Welschriesling/Weissburgunder Heidi Schröck Weinbau Heidi Schröck, Rust

Ruster Ausbruch 2006 37.5cl Furmint "Turner" Heidi Schröck Weinbau Heidi Schröck, Rust
Ref: 4330066

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All Ausbruch is rare and obscure, but this is rarer still; a single vineyard wine made from 100% Furmint, another obscure variety. A beautiful pale golden yellow, it is highly viscous, and has a strong nose of botrytis, and complex tropical fruits, honey, and citrus, mirrored on the palate, which has a more mineral nature than the previous wine, which arises from the soil types in the Turner vineyard, which has urgestein primary rock soils below a layer of limestone. Immense length, and huge ageing potential. A truly stunning wine.

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Price: £55.20 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Ruster Ausbruch 2008 37.5cl Auf den Flügeln der Morgenröte (On the Wings of Dawn) Heidi Schröck Weinbau Heidi Schröck, Rust
Ref: 4330103

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Heidi's Ausbruch is made from a mixture of grape varieties; a blend of mainly Welschriesling and Pinot blanc and a tiny bit of Sauvignon blanc and Furmint. It's quite concentrated, yet complex and lively on the palate, which is full of citrus, pears, and peach. The finish is fantastic and goes on forever. 11.5 % ABV, 152 g/l resifual sugar.

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Ruster Ausbruch 2008 37.5cl Auf den Flügeln der Morgenröte (On the Wings of Dawn) Heidi Schröck Weinbau Heidi Schröck, Rust

	The Schröck-Kracher Joint Project
Gerhard Kracher of the Kracher estate in Illmitz, famed for it's sweet wines, has teamed up with Heidi Schröck in a joint winemaking venture. The original idea for the project came from Gerhard's late father Alois Kracher, who often spoke with his son about his desire to branch out and try something new across the lake in Rust, the heartland of Ausbruch wine. Early in 2006 the Kracher family bought a vineyard parcel of 0.2 hectares and joined with Heidi Schröck in an equal partnership to make the idea a reality. Some more vineyards were leased, and from 1.5 hectares they produce a classic Ruster Ausbruch - a truly legendary wine in style and origin. Welschriesling, Grauburgunder und Furmint are blended into a cuvée that exudes animated sweetness, fine biscuit and dried fruit flavours and a mineral stature. Schröck and Kracher produce also the Greiner, an opulent Welschriesling with discreet residual sweetness. After three years maturation in cask and barrel, the 2006 vintage has been bottled and both winemakers are pleased with the resulting two wines that have exceeded all expectations: a classic, polished, brilliant Ausbruch, as well as a wine named from it's vineyard of origin, Greiner - a new take on the Welschriesling varietal, semi-sweet with luscious aromatics. We are pleased to have been able to acquire a small quantity of each of these wines.

Welschriesling Greiner 2006 Schröck Kracher
Ref: 4330071

***

A quite unique and extraordinary wine that explores the potential depth and breadth of the Welschriesling varietal - full-bodied and opulent, with maturation in cask and a small amount of residual sugar. Greiner represents the return to a traditional vinification style that was once common in Burgenland and today almost completely forgotten. The grapes from the Greiner vineyard were harvested very late in November 2006, with 15 - 20% affected by botrytis. Fermentation was conducted in large acacia wood casks followed by three years of cellar-ageing. It has a powerful 14.5% alcohol that fascinatingly, is hardly noticeable on the palate. With these dimensions, the unique complexity that Welschriesling is capable of finds expression once again. Greiner is voluptuous and grand, hedonistic rather than heavy. The nose displays aromas of fresh figs, ripe, fragrant melon and exotic fruits, along with a distinctive spiciness. On the palate, mineral notes and a confident acidity contribute to give overall elegance and nobility.

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Price: £26.40 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Welschriesling Greiner 2006 Schröck Kracher

Ruster Ausbruch 2006 Schröck Kracher 37.5cl
Ref: 4330072

***

Grape clusters affected by Edelfäule (noble rot) are harvested by hand in several vineyard passes, whereby only the individual grapes that have botrytis are picked, sometimes singly plucked (or as expressed in the local German dialect - "broken out", hence the name "Ausbruch" for this wine, which means "break out"). This is the Ruster Ausbruch of legend, since the time of the Habsburg monarchy one of the most sought after sweet wines in Europe. Heidi Schröck and Gerhard Kracher make their version of this rare wine by adding a small amount (2 to 3%) of fresh, unaffected by botrytis but overripe grapes, fermenting then maturing the wine in 225 liter acacia wood barrels. Three years later a wine has emerged with a robust 11% alcohol and 230 grams per liter residual sugar, a radiant golden yellow color, aromas of dried apricot and freshly baked brioche, and a surprising freshness on the palate due to a lively acidity. Terroir has left traces of subtle minerality that works to balance the sweetness and give the wine structure. An honored tradition with a new interpretation; this motif is also found on the wine bottle label, which portrays a historic 17th century map of Lake Neusiedl. Schröck and Kracher Ruster Ausbruch was filled in the customary 375 ml bottle.

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Price: £48.00 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Ruster Ausbruch 2006 Schröck Kracher 37.5cl

Schilfwein "Tradition" 2002 37.5cl Gerhardt Nekowitsch Illmitz
Ref: 4330004

"Schilfwein" (literally "reed wine") is made from carefully selected, healthy and fully mature grapes which are stored and slowly air-dried on a bed of reeds. The moisture content of the grapes reduces as the grapes dry, and the sugar and flavour concentration will increase. After a drying for a minimum of three months, the raisin-like grapes will be pressed slowly and carefully. The resulting wines are sweet to very sweet and have a huge ageing potential. Flavours are immensely complex and concentarted.

"Le Bottin Gourmand" classified the 1996 vintage of this wine as "one of the best sweet wines in the world" and ranked it with 18.5 points, the same score as was given to the Château d'Yquem 1983.

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Price: £27.60 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Schilfwein "The Red One" 2006 37.5cl Gerhardt Nekowitsch Illmitz
Ref: 4330074

Sweet Red Wine

This is a real rarity - a red Schilfwein, made from Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch grapes.

TN in preparation.

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Price: £28.80 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Eiswein 2006 37.5cl Grüner Veltliner Weingut Diem Obermarksdorf, Weinviertel
Ref: 4380020

A pale golden yellow, with a nose of citrus and honey with some mineral layers. Rich on the palate, with sharply defined sweet fruit flavours, clear GV character, with white citrus fruit, some white pepper, and minerals. Huge length.

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Price: £24.00 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Eiswein 2007 37.5cl Grüner Veltliner Weingut Pröglhöf Retz, Weinviertel
Ref: 4380021

A bright golden yellow; on the nose aromas of fresh Williams pear, ripe mangoes, pomegranates and white pepper, On the palate, lots of fruit and spice, very fine tannins, and good structure, precise and persistent.

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Zweigelt Eiswein 2007 37.5cl "Hesperia" Weingut Felsner Grunddorf, Kremstal
Ref: 4310008

Sweet Red Wine

A truly amazing and rare wine, and one which we are proud to list. Not a lot of Eiswein is made in Austria, and most of it is white, so to find not only a red Eiswein, but one which is of such outstanding quality, is really very special. Throw in the moon being full when the grapes were harvested and you have something unique! "Hesperia" is one of the Hesperides in Greek mythology. The Hesperides were nymphs who tended a blissful garden in a far western corner of the world, an oasis of peace where where a grove of immortality-giving golden apples grew. The Hesperides are sometimes called the Western Maidens, the Daughters of the Evening, or the Sunset Goddesses. The wine is named after the colour of this sunset - a brilliant pink-orange hue. The wine has intense fruit flavours - pungent plum, orange zest and lychee show great purity. A sweet entry leads to a firm, full-bodied palate with balanced sweetness. Lengthy, ripe, flavorful finish. Not only the concentration of aromas, but also the amazing balance of sugar and racy acidity meshes in an ethereal package, making this wine elegant and seductive. The grapes for Hesperia were harvested after an early deep frost on Dec. 19, 2007 when temperature dropped below -10° C. Exceptional, fully ripened and totally healthy grapes, naturally frozen on the vine, were hand picked. The pressing was immediate and done extremely slowly and carefully with a 300 year-old wood press. The yield is only 10% of that of autumn harvested grapes - it takes every single grape from an entire vine to yield just enough juice to make one bottle of Eiswein. Add the risk of grapes being stolen by hungry birds or other critters, or damaged by hail or harsh winter winds, and you can understand why the harvest is so precious and valuable.

Ice wine pours much more thickly than regular wine, which is the first indication of its concentration of flavour. You will be struck by its colour - a deep salmon pink. The bouquet will then sweep over you, a heady blend of exotic fruits and fragrances. Ice wine has very intense flavours and a unique blend of sweetness and dryness - all at the same time.

ABV: 12 % Residual Sugar: 160 g/L
Serving temperature: well chilled (5 - 7 ° C)
Suggested food pairings: Créme brulee, gratin dishes, custards, sabayons, tartes, flans, cheese cake, chocolate desserts, ginger bread, Goose liver pate, Blue cheeses (Roquefort, Stilton), dishes with a touch of sweetness such as glazed ham

Awards & reviews

92 points - Wine & Spirits Magazine, Issue April 2009

"This unusual dessert wine is a coppery pink in color, with silky aromas of red plum, tangerine and roasted peach. It feels concentrated and vivid even though it's not overly large in body, possessing a deft balance of acidity and persisting with excellent fragrance and length."

92 points - Falstaff Wine Guide 2009/2010

Selected for Food & Wine Magazine's Wine Guide 2010, USA

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Price: £31.80 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Beerenauslese "Ganz a Siassa" 2005 37.5cl Franz & Christina Strohmeier St. Stefan/Stainz Weststeiermark
Ref: 4350015

"A Siassa" is simply local dialect for "Sweet". "Ganz" is German for entirely so this is a sweet wine but, yet, not so sweet. Its bracing acidity gives it a completely clean dry finish. It's a lovely coppery pink colour with a powerful nose of strawberries and red berry fruit. On the palate it is rich and sumptuous, sweet without being cloying. Huge viscosity, and intensely concentrated red berry and strawberry flavours; a great well of richness with a finish that just goes on forever. Absolutely fantastic stuff.

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Price: £21.60 (Including VAT at 20%)

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