Weingut Stadt Krems 2014 Exceptional Ried Grillenparz Riesling 750ml

A luscious core of apple and pineapple is tinged with anise and honey in this surprisingly rich, expansive yet animatedly juicy and transparent offering. Glimmers of alkalinity and stoniness, comparable to those exhibited in the corresponding Schieferterrassen bottling, lend an intriguing counterpoint. Suggestions of sweet-saline langoustine savor lead to an impressively sustained finish. Given that fermentation didn’t finish until the end of March (and even then left behind what is by local and estate standards an unusually high half-dozen grams of residual sugar), it’s fortunate that racking from the fine lees and bottling were delayed until well into summer. This represents another 2014 Stadt Krems success, remarkable considering that vintage’s challenges, especially to Riesling, but also given that the corresponding 2013, from one of the most propitious growing seasons for its region in modern memory, is not nearly its equal.

Score: 92 points -- David Schildknecht, Vinous, Sept 2015

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Ever since 1452, a unique and special expression of Austrian wine culture has flourished at the centre of Krems an der Donau – Weingut Stadt Krems. Thus, we are among the oldest wine estates in the world that remain in operation. What makes us even more unique is the fact that the city of Krems is its sole proprietor. As a member of the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW), we are in the fortunate position of cultivating some of Austria’s finest vineyard sites. Among our forty-three hectares under vines – all completely located within the city limits of Krems – are such historically significant appellations such as Schreck, Wachtberg & Grillenparz. We are delighted to bring the full potential of these noted terroirs into the bottle each year. For the team at Weingut Stadt Krems, under the direction of Fritz Miesbauer, it’s all about Grüner Veltliner & Riesling. Our wines tell the story in all its complexity: the origin of the grapes, the character of the region and the individuality of the varieties. First and foremost is authenticity; each wine has its individual expression.