A-G-A (Austria, Germany, Alsace) 6-pack Sampler #3 - The Reds

   The Wines of Austria, Germany & Alsace - 6 Bottle Sampler #3 - The Reds
$73.5 Value for just $56.5

For June we're featuring wines from Austria, Germany & Alsace. If you're like most people you probably think these wine regions are all about sweet wines or just white wines.  Not only are there tons of fabulous dry white wines coming out of these historic wine regions as we demonstrate in Sampler #1, they also make some incredible reds, both from regional and international, cool climate varietals.

Sampler includes one bottle each:

Rolly Gassmann Pinot Noir (Alsace) -  The Rolly Gassmann estate has been family owned and operated since it was founded in 1611.  Today the estate has 51 hectares of biodynamically farmed vineyards.  Their Pinot Noir is a light ruby red which on the nose it see cherry jam with notes of cedar. It is soft and discreet before it opens up to show more opulence, with delicate tannins and typical notes of violet and cherry with a hint of dark chocolate. Elegant and well balanced.

Claus Preisinger Puszta Libre! (Austria) - This fun red's bottle looks like Claus Preisinger wants people to drink straight from the bottle (all that’s missing is the flip top closure)! This is an exciting, light red definitely meant to be drink chilled (it is written on the label) with a loaded palate of juicy berries and a touch of spice. Super fruit forward in a very Austrian Beajoulais style, so no wonder this wine is called the perfect glou-glou wine by numerous natural wine fans around the world.

Weingut Stift Klosterneuburg St Laurent (Austria) - Since its foundation in 1114 Klosterneuburg Abbey has been growing wine, which makes it the oldest wine estate of Austria.  It is also one of the region's most innovative and grows many varietals, and in 2009 became Europe's first winery to be certified carbon neutral.  Stift Klosterneuburg’s St. Laurent is a classic Austrian red, known for its deep ruby garnet color and vibrant fruit profile. The nose is dominated by ripe sour cherries and dark cherries, with subtle hints of forest berries adding complexity.  On the palate, it’s juicy and fruit-forward, with a smooth, approachable texture.

Pratsch Zweigelt 1L (Autria) - Pratsch Niederösterreich Zweigelt is a bright, fruit-driven Austrian red with a lively character. It opens with aromas of ripe raspberries and cherries, complemented by subtle spice and black pepper. On the palate, the wine is juicy and fresh, with well-integrated acidity that enhances its vibrancy. The texture is smooth yet structured, offering a balanced interplay between fruit and spice. Aged for eight months on lees, it retains a natural depth while remaining approachable.

Chiara Pinot Noir (Germany) - This is an unexpectedly exciting Pinot Noir out of Germany that can be enjoyed almost anytime. Grown in the Pfalz region, the second largest German wine-growing region which is made up of two areas, Mittelhaardt-Deutsche Weinstraße and Südliche Weinstraße. As with most of Germany, the region is primarily known for white varietals like Riesling, Kerner, Muller-Thurgau, as well as international varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.  Over the last decade or so though, red varietals have become increasingly important and some fantastic Pinot Noirs are starting to emerge.  Like this fantastic bargain from Chiara that is perfect for many occasions, from Tuesday night pizza night to weekend barbecues outside, this wine's versatility will make you want to grab it again and again. With notes of fresh blueberry, raspberry, black cherry, and spice, what's not to like? With its low tannins and relatively low ABV (12.5%), it's also great with a slight chill, or pop the cork at room temperature, whichever is your preference; like we said, it's versatile.

Evolucio Blaufrankisch (Austria) - Scientific DNA testing now tells us that Blaufrankisch originated in Slovenia, but now is one of Austria’s signature red wine varietals and accounts for a large proportion of production in the country’s production (2^nd most widely planted behind Zweigelt).  Juicy, red berry fruit with notes of earth and warm spices on the nose. The rich (but not jammy or heavy) fruit is balance by lively acidity, more farm-y soil, and a clean finish on the palate.

6 x 750ml