WINE =======: 1999 Schwarz Zweigelt
Tasting Date: 2004-11-30
Score       : 85

Notes
-----
Light to deep red in color; minor sign of age at edges. Nose
of spicy light fruits, menthol. Medium to light-bodied,
extremely fruity, smooth but tannins don't match the very
sharp, spicy fruit.

Production Notes
----------------
Three men in search of something extraordinary, 12 hectares
of vineyard in the depths of Burgenland's Seewinkel and the
will to put visions into action. These are the elements that
gave rise to Austria's most innovative viticultural project
of recent years.

The three men involved begin with Johann (Hans) Schwarz, a
weighty butcher from Andau who has gained national renown
for the super high quality of his meat products. But above
all, Schwarz sees himself as a vintner. His great passion is
his 12 hectares of vines planted to Chardonnay, Gruner
Veltliner and Zweigelt. For many years Schwarz tended his
vines under the expert direction of Alois Kracher, one of
Austria's greatest vintners and the second man in the story.
In 1999 they decided to start making wines from these
precious vines with their friend Manfred Krankl (Sine Qua
Non) of California winemaking fame. In Schwarz' words, the
concept is as follows: "Luis, Manfred and I consider my
vineyards as a huge playground. Here, we want to break new
ground. We want to experiment and take risks." These are
wines of independent personalities, uncompromising in
quality, and not fixed on regional traditions.

Schwarz Weiss
    This wine is a blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Gruner
Veltliner. The wine has a mighty structure and combines the
steely fruit of Chardonnay with the spiciness of Gruner
Veltliner. Green tea notes on the nose lead to a palate that
is soft and mellow witha ripe and balanced acidity.

Schwarz Rot
    100% Zweigelt, this wine reveals impressive varietal
character. The wine captivates with its dark, garnet-ruby
color and amazing plum aromatics. Its intense flavors, fine
tannins and long, refined finish remind one of a modern
Spanish growth or the great reds of the new world.
Output generated by La Wine Club - http://LaWineClub.com/
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