Nick Dobson Wines Styria

Styria Frequently referred to as Austria's Tuscany, Styria is a southern Austrian region slap bang up against the Slovenian border; it is way off the beaten wine-track and has the most achingly beautiful contryside imaginable. Styria makes a wide range of wines from numerous grape varieties, but for me there are 2 vinous reasons to come here- Sauvignon Blanc, and Schilcher. With the greatest of respect to Sauvignon Blancs from France and New Zealand, for me the Styrian versions are the best on the planet. It seems I'm not the only one who thinks this; at a London trade fair, in a blind tasting of great Sauvignon Blancs from all over the world, four of the top ten turned out to be from Styria. Not bad for a little-known region. And Schilcher - a rosé made from the traditional indigenous Blauer Wildbacher grape, reputed to have been in cultivatiuon in Celtic times, which has pronouned acidity and freshness. The allure of this region is breathtaking; the beauty of the countryside, the lack of tourism, small local inns and the beautiful wines conspire to offer a wine-tourism destination par excellence.

Alois & Ulrike Gross, Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse, Südsteirmark Our supplier in Southern Styria is the excellent Weingut Gross. This 50 hectare estate lies directly on the Ratscher Nussberg, one of the finest vineyards of South Styria, set amongst the rolling South Styrian wine country along the Austrian-Slovenian border. The range produced here is typically regional, and includes grape varieties such as Welschriesling, Muskateller, Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Morillon (Styrian for Chardonnay), Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer. Gross makes two distinct ranges, which differ considerably in style and vinification methods. The first is the varietally characteristic light and fruit-driven "Steirische Klassik" range, and the other the fully ripe wines with distinctive aromas and complexity, from the single vineyards of Nussberg, Sulz, Kittenberg and Gamitzberg. The Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer single vineyard wines are of particular interest; in the hands of winemaker Alois Gross they make distinctive, complex and sumptuous wines. These physiologically mature single vineyard wines impress year after year with individually distinct vintage aromas thanks to their respective soil composition and micro-climatic characteristics.

Gewürztraminer 2003 Gamitzberg Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse
Ref: 4350005

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A pale golden yellow, with a complex warming nose of pepper, spice, marzipan, wisteria, and ground Jamaican allspice. Masses of fruit on the palate - including grapefruit - supported on a solid mineral base. Again somewhat spicy, with cinnamon and pepper on the long warming finish. This is quite a complex wine, but where all the elements integrate well to provide a harmonious drinking experience, and for me this is one of the highlights of the Gross range. Really more of a wine for food, this would work well with lightly spiced dishes such as Thai or Malaysian.

Price: £19.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Gewürztraminer 2003 Gamitzberg Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse

Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Sulz Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse
Ref: 4350021

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A stunning expression of Sauvignon Blanc; an extremely pale yellow, the nose seems initially restrained yet complex with lychees, cracked peapods, and green grassy aromas, with a stony mineral supportive bed; on the palate there is plenty of fruit, some pepper, lots of lychees, melon, and some green apple, all spun together into a tightly knit whole that works incredibly well. A creamy texture with a long finish which is dry and mineral.

Price: £19.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Sulz Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse

Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Kittenberg Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse
Ref: 4350025

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TN in preparation.

Limited stock.

Price: £18.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Kittenberg Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse

Sämling (Scheurebe) 2006 Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse
Ref: 4350022

Intense aromas of fresh peach and orange peel, refreshing, and fruity, with a lively acidity. This is a flavoursome wine perfect for the warm summer months. Great value.

Price: £9.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Grauburgunder Rothüttl 2006 Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse
Ref: 4350026

Price: £18.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Sauvignon Blanc 2003 Nussberg Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse
Ref: 4350002

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Price: £22.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Sauvignon Blanc 2003 Nussberg Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse

Gewürztraminer Eiswein 2003 37.5cl Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse Southern Styria (Südsteiermark)
Ref: 4350008

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TN in preparation.

Very limited stock.

Price: £23.50 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Gewürztraminer Eiswein 2003 37.5cl Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse Southern Styria (Südsteiermark)

Gewürztraminer Trockenbeerenauslese 2002 37.5cl Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse
Ref: 435009S

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A pale burnished golden-yellow, with a soft botrytis nose, this wine is immensely rich, with a complex palate of toffee, caramel, grapefruit with hints of orange peel, passion fruit, and hazlenuts. Incredible length, sweet and sumptuous, with marzipan flavours and a pleasing lick of spice in the finish.

Price: £29.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Gewürztraminer Trockenbeerenauslese 2002 37.5cl Alois Gross Weingut Gross Ratsch-an-der-Weinstrasse

Franz & Christine Strohmeier St. Stefan/Stainz, Weststeirmark Franz & Christine Strohmeier's "Wein and Sektmanufaktur Strohmeier" has 9 hectares of vines in the Lestein vineyard, set in idyllic countryside with a panoramic view of St. Stefan and the surrounding Schilcher country. Soils are sandy loam. Apart from small experimental plantings of Morillon (Chardonnay), Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Blanc, just about everything here is focused on the indigenous Blauer Wildbacher grape, from which they produce an extraordinary range of wines of quite distinct character. Blauer Wildbacher is grown principally in Western Styria, where vines thrive at altitudes of up to 600 metres. It can be quite a tricky grape to grow; although not demanding in terms of soil type, it is prone to rot and is a late ripener, so is best suited to warm aerated sites. The range includes reds, Schilcher rosé, various sparkling wines, and in some years sweet dessert wines. The sparklers are of particular interest ; the grapes are processed carefully, with minimal mechanical treatment, and undergo malolacctic fermentation and aging on the lees, bringing about a tremendous freshness.

Schilcher Klassik 2007 Franz & Christina Strohmeier St. Stefan/Stainz Weststeiermark
Ref: 4350020

Light salmon pink, with an orange tinge. Delicate aromas of strawberries and other red berry fruit, on the palate quite racy yet with creamy texture and with flavours of strawberries and red berries; a hint of citrus zest. Very fresh, drink chilled on its own or with salads, grilled meats, or lightly spiced dishes.

Price: £10.30 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Schilcher Lestoa' 2005 Franz & Christina Strohmeier St. Stefan/Stainz Weststeiermark
Ref: 4350014

This is a Schilcher made from grapes grown in the best parts of the Ried Lestein, with very late, selective picking and longer maturation - in wood rather than stainless steel as is used for the classic Schilcher. "Lestoa'" is a local dialect for "Ried Lestein". The result is a softer lower acid wine, more rounded and with lots of ripe fruit.

New stocks now arrived.

Price: £11.60 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Blauer Wildbacher 2003 Lestoa Franz & Christina Strohmeier St. Stefan/Stainz Weststeiermark
Ref: 4350018

TN in preparation.

Price: £18.05 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Sauvignon Blanc Sekt Franz & Christina Strohmeier St. Stefan/Stainz Weststeiermark
Ref: 4350019

A dry Sauvignon Blanc Sekt, which has undergone secondary fermentation in the bottle, as per the Champagne method. The wine rested on the lees for 18 months prior to disgorgement. Extremely fruity, with good body, a fine mousse, and excellent length. A lovely and most unusual wine.

Price: £16.60 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Strohmeier Schilcher Sekt Brut Franz & Christina Strohmeier St. Stefan/Stainz Weststeiermark
Ref: 4350010

Matured on the lees, with 100% malolactic fermentation in bottle to soften the acidity. Méthode traditionelle. Light salmon pink, with an incredibly fresh nose - masses of fruit, strawberries, red berry fruit. A lovely mousse with a good creamy texture, and excellent length. A real rarity in the UK.

Price: £13.55 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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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.

Price: £19.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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