Gernot Heinrich Zweigelt

Romazini: 4/5 Stars

The Winespectator: 87/100 Points

A red berry aroma leads to a suave mix of raspberry, mocha and dark plum flavors. Dark chocolate, with hints of mint, marks the finish. Drink now.

Robert Parker: 90/100 Points

Vintage 2007: Heinrich bottled a portion of his basic 2007 Zweigelt - vinified in large ovals and used barriques - very early. Black cherry, purple plum, almond, and fresh fig inform this generous, invigoratingly spicy and saline wine, a faint hint of cherry pit bitterness helping to add contrast to the penetrating, stimulating finish. Concentrated, sappy, primary fresh fruit and distilled fruit overtones make a superb case for the potential of this indigenous red crossing and for this vintage, as well as offering excellent value. Later bottlings - with more time to evolve on the lees - should be even better. This wine can be enjoyed for at least 2-3 years from bottling.

From Gernot Heinrich's impressive facility and immaculately-tended vineyards issue some of Austria's most celebrated red wines. Like a number of the best local growers, Heinrich has come to the realization that sparing no expense, stringently reducing yields, and selecting bunches are to no avail if the fruit and finesse are suffocated by overly-aggressive extraction or barrel work. The least expensive, tank-rendered wines here have been consistently brilliant in their straightforward, generous way, while his more sophisticated blends seem increasingly nuanced and comfortable inside of their own skins of late. Added acreage around Neusiedel has increased the size of this estate by 50% over the past three years, and during the same period viticultural practices have been converted to biodynamic. Heinrich has decided to reintroduce Pinot Blanc into his program, and tastings of older wines make one wonder why he ever gave up on it, other of course than its being unfashionable.

The Winemaker

Falstaff: 89/100 Points