Winemonger.com

Wine Spectator magazine’s June 15th issue includes its annual Austria focus, and we are pleased to see that many of the wineries imported by Winemonger have come away with the highest scores and accolades.

In fact, it’s two years in a row now that Wine Spectator magazine has featured Johann Donabaum, which may officially signal that he is no longer an “up-and-comer”, but has, in fact, arrived. Last year they named him as one of three vintners in the Wachau region leading the way, and this year they feature him in the article (with a very nice photo), and note ..a pair of outstanding single-vineyard 2005 Rieslings from Donabaum, the Smaragd Offenberg (92, $36) and the Smaragd Setzberg (92, $32) embody these qualities, showing racy, intense flavors of mineral, citrus and peach.

Our other two Wachau vintners, Josef Hogl and Franz-Josef Gritsch, are also singled out: Particularly wallet-friendly releases include the Hogl Ried Schon-Viessling Gruner Veltliner Smaragd (92, $27)…. and the Gritsch Mauritiushof Kalmuck Gruner Veltliner (91, $13). The Kalmuck was also placed number 1 on the list of Top Values.

Kurt Feiler of Feiler-Artinger earned nose-bleed high scores for his dessert wines, along with this shout out: Also impressive is the Feiler-Artinger Essenz Ruster Ausbruch 2004 (96, $58), with layers of rich, honeyed fruit flavors and spice notes, in a style reminiscent of Hungarian Tokaji.

FIND THESE TOP RATED WINES HERE
We suggest you run right out and get your own copy of the magazine, but in the meantime, here are our top scorers (with easy links so you can just toss these wines into your shopping cart before they sell out) and a few selected reviews:

Donabaum Setzberg Riesling Smaragd 2005
92 points $32

Donabaum Spitzer Point Gruner Veltliner Smaragd 2005
90 points $31.50

Donabaum Johann Gruner Veltliner 2005
90 points $12.50
Offers rich aromas and flavors of apricot, pear, smoke and spice, with a long finish of cream and vanilla.

Donabaum Bergterrassen Riesling Federspiel 2005
90 points $19.99

Hogl Ried Schon-Viessling Gruner Veltliner Smaragd 2005
92 points $26.99
Very smoky and spicy, with ripe peach, mineral and grapefruit flavors, backed up by firm acidity. The mouthwatering finish shows dried apricot, with hints of ripe pear.

Hogl Loibner Vision Riesling Smaragd 2005
91 points $32.50
Opulent, with rich flavors of ripe peach, hazelnut and hints of butterscotch. Very finely crafted.

Hogl Bruck Riesling Smaragd 2005
91 points $36.99

Gritsch Mauritiushof Kalmuck Gruner Veltliner 2005
91 points $13
Stylish, structured and full-bodied, with grapefruit, mineral, smoke and spice flavors that are rich and mouthfilling. The long finish shows crunchy green apple and allspice.

Gritsch Mauritiushof Axpoint Gruner Veltliner Federspiel 2005
89 points $12.99
Ripe and round, this medium- to full-bodied white shows good definition to its grapefruit, mineral and spice flavors. Finishes with mango and ripe peach.

Feiler-Artinger Essenz Ruster Ausbruch 2004
96 points $58
Unctuous and nectarlike, with layers of ripe apricot, peach, vanilla and butterscotch flavors that are rich and honeyed. Has a powerful structure, with incredible viscosity. The finish shows notes of lavender, lanolin, beeswax and honeycomb. Reminiscent of six puttonyos Tokaji.

Feiler-Artinger Muscat Ottonel Ruster Ausbruch 2004
94 points $48

Feiler-Artinger Pinot Cuvee Ruster Ausbruch 2004
93 points $40