Zweigelt Eiswein 2007 37.5cl "Hesperia" Weingut Felsner Grunddorf, Kremstal, Austria 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. "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 lovely 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, fruit 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
Price: £31.80 (Including VAT at 20%)
Quantity: People who bought this item also bought: Beerenauslese 2003 37.5cl Pinot Gris Josef Lentsch Podersdorf/See, Burgenland, Austria (Ref: 4330039) Price: £16.20 (Including VAT at 20%)
Chardonnay Cuvée des Reines, Albert Biollaz (F&D Giroud), Chamoson, Valais, Switzerland (Ref: 4112012) Price: £18.90 (Including VAT at 20%)
Constellation 2009, F&D Giroud, Sion, Valais (Ref: 4112021) Price: £60.00 (Including VAT at 20%)
