Nick Dobson Wines Thermenregion

Thermenregion South of Vienna is the district known as Thermenregion, which takes its name from ancient thermal baths (Baden is today still a spa town). Thermenregion is centred around the wine villages of Gumpoldskirchen, Traiskirchen, Sooß, Guntramsdorf, Tattendorf, and Perchtoldsdorf. This is Heurigen country par excellence, with many establishments frequented by visitors from nearby Vienna. The district is often compared with the Côte d'Or in France due to similar soil formation and climate. Many grape varieties are grown here but of particular interest are the white wines from the rare indigenous Rotgipfler and Zierfandler, which give exotic wines with quince and orange aromas, have good body, and age extremely well. Zierfandler is indeed an endangered species, with just a few hundred hectares in the whole world, most of it here. We are pleased to offer a selection of reds and these obscure but excellent whites from a handful of really good makers - Christian Fischer in Sooß, one of Austria's top red winemakers, Weingut Spaetrot-Gebeshuber in Gumpoldskirchen, and the Freigut at Thallern, just outside Gumpoldskirchen, a property owned by the Cistertian Monastery at Heiligenkreuez, and which has been making wine since 1141. It doesn't get much more traditional than that!

Zierfandler Rasslerin 2009 Harald Zierer, Gumpoldskirchen
Ref: 4320027

This wine is made from grapes grown in the Rasslerin vineyard in Gumpoldskirchen; this is the field immediately behind Harald's house, rising steeply up above the village. It's the field that we reached last when Harald and I did a walking tour of his vineyards in the summer of 2010. Soils here have a high clay content, which is ideal for Zierfandler.

A pale straw yellow, with peardrops, minerals and some citrus on the nose. On the palate, good fruit, peardrops again, and a pleasing minerality. Very small amount of residual sugar - 9g/litre - dry, but not bone dry. Rich and long finish. Drink 13-14 deg C, 13.0% ABV. Nice with roast pork, schnitzel, and freshwater fish dishes. Zierfandler makes quite long-lived wines, and Harald reckons this will keep up to about 7 years.

An exceptional example of a wine made from this rare grape.

In stock - normally despatched within one working day.

Price: £13.80 (Including VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Rheinriesling 2005 Ried Hofbreite Freigut Thallern
Ref: 4320011

This is an unoaked Riesling made in 100% stainless steel. It has a pale golden yellow colour, with a classic fruity Riesling nose with some floral notes. On the palate it is again fruity, with citrus and green apple notes and good balancing acidity. Good clean finish with a nice acid streak. A nice everyday Austrian Riesling which represents good value.

In stock - normally despatched within one working day.

Price: £11.40 (Including VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Rheinriesling Auslese 2006 (50cl) Alte Ried Freigut Thallern
Ref: 4320012

TN in preparation.

In stock - normally despatched within one working day.

Price: £20.40 (Including VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir) 2003 Ried Pfennigacker Freigut Thallern
Ref: 4320013

This wine comes from a small vineyard near Gumpoldskirchen; it's matured for 12 months in large oak barrels before bottling. A deep violet colour, with a jammy nose, with notes of cassis and loganberry. On the palate it's dry, with plenty of dark fruit and nice soft tannins. Long dry fruity finish. Keeps up to 10 years. A great value for money wine.

In stock - normally despatched within one working day.

Price: £12.60 (Including VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Zierfandler/Rotgipfler Spätlese 2006 Weingut Spaetrot-Gebeshuber Gumpoldskirchen
Ref: 4320019

A late harvest wine made from a blend of two rare indigenous Austrian varieties - Zierfandler and Rotipfler. The vines are grown in a vineyard called Laimgrube, located on the road between Gumpoldskirchen and Baden (the Oberer Badnerweg) and are aged on average 20 years. Fermantation is in stainless steel tanks and is temperature controlled.

A golden straw-yellow, with exotic tropical fruit aromas, reflected on the palate; maracuja, orange, pineapple, and stone fruit. Noticeably off-dry, with excellent length. An unusual lush exotic wine; goes well with hard cheeses and sweet desserts. Drink around 10-12 Deg C. Very long-lived.

ABV 12%; acidity 7.3g/l; residual sugar 58.4g/l.

In stock - normally despatched within one working day.

Price: £15.60 (Including VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Gradenthal 2005 Christian Fischer Weingut Fischer, Sooß
Ref: 4320015

Another successful vintage of Gradenthal. Dark ruby red, intensive sour-cherry bouquet, firm and compact on the palate, soft, long finish. Goes well with pasta, fried meat, game, spicy hard cheese.

Falstaff Wineguide - 91 Points.

In stock - normally despatched within one working day.

Price: £19.20 (Including VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Pinot Noir Premium 2005 Christian Fischer Weingut Fischer, Sooß
Ref: 4320016

A stunning Pinot Noir from one of Austria's best red wine makers. The climate and soil types in Thermenregion - often compared to Burgindy - are ideally suited to Pinot Noir, and this example from Christian Fischer does not disappoint. A deep ruby red, with fine deep bouquet, is pure Pinot on the palate, with a cinnamon, spice, and kirsch; the finish is long and flavoursome. A good match for dark meats, game, mushrooms, soft red cheese and blue cheese.

Falstaff Wineguide - 89 Points

In stock - normally despatched within one working day.

Price: £19.80 (Including VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Merlot Premium 2004 Christian Fischer Weingut Fischer, Sooß
Ref: 4320018

**(*)

In stock - normally despatched within one working day.

Price: £23.40 (Including VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Merlot Premium 2004 Christian Fischer Weingut Fischer, Sooß

Grüner Veltliner Classic 2006 Christian Fischer Weingut Fischer, Sooß
Ref: 4320010

*£

This wine really is green! A very pale green hue, with a nose of spice, cracked white pepper, and minerals, all reflected on the palate. A super entry-level GV with good "bite", classic GV flavours, a refreshing and good length. A great summer wine which represents good value for money.

Note - some bottles of this wine contain harmless white sediment.

Was £8.95.
In stock - normally despatched within one working day.

Price: £6.00 (Including VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Grüner Veltliner Classic 2006 Christian Fischer Weingut Fischer, Sooß