I very much enjoyed the J. Hofstätter Meczan Pinot Nero 2004 when it became available here in '06. But it got better and better all the time though our monopoly suggested it should be drunk within a year. I opened up my last bottle yesterday with dinner, but it was sadly corked. FWIW, my previous bottle of the '04 a few months earlier was just lovely with a strongly mineral and red toned fruit, great Pinosity but in a rather gravelly style. It was bright and refreshing, light and intense, very food friendly.
Anyway, I returned the corked bottle to Alko and was happy to see that this is a rare case where a wine to my taste isn't discarded once a vintage is sold out, so the following vintage was available! Of course, it doesn't cost 15€ anymore but 18€, so I had to pay a few € for the replacement, but I have to say that though it isn't a bargain Pinot in my book anymore, the J. Hofstätter Meczan Pinot Nero 2005 is still a charming wine! 13,5%; 17,90€. The fruit is darker toned than the '04, but it is still full of Pinosity. Though it is a riper wine than the '04 it is still a bright and mineral wine. It has a refreshing tartness to the sweet fruit, strong structure, but is not as lively and vibrant. I really enjoyed this now but considering how well the '04 is drinking now, I expect I will like this '05 even more in a year or two. Very enjoyable.
