Buchegger Gruner Veltliner Holzgasse 2008
$17.99
This is one of those I got because of the tasting notes on the case in the shop. I've loved the GV's I've had before and have wanted to explore this varietal more in depth, as well as get my inner Von Trapp out. In any case the liner notes said:
"savory herbal overtones to the apple and pear flavors. The firm finish features lentil and white pepper notes, with hints of cream".
I got acidity up front, which is not bad as I love lip smacking, tongue assaulting acidity, but the fruit flavors were indistinct, I certainly didn't get any apple or pear. The spice was in the nose, and it did have a nice nose, but not much in the taste. I actually thought this a bit thinner than I'm used to for a GV*. This is the rare case for me that the wine might have been too dry. It certainly wasn't a bad wine and I figure the kielbasa, perogi and peas I had with it were a natural match. There just wasn't enough of the special Gruner spice and X factor going on.
I give this one the split decision. For the price I'll probably not go back though.
This wine does point out one of the struggles for me in the whole wide world of grape slurping. In the price range I can operate in there are real treasures, real duds, and plenty of "well I guess it is wine" and it's sometimes hard to know what one is going to get. Unless I read the wineloverspage day and night of course.
K.
*I realize this makes me sound like I'm some yodeling Smaragd fancy lad, when in fact I've had a grand total of two GVs.
, haven't had a Buchegger myself, but I can offer that if gruner veltliner were more common here, it would likely be my favorite white grape of all. It has the best of everything I love about chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and riesling all rolled into one grape, and it often tastes of sweet green peas, which I adore.