2012 F.X. Pichler
Kellerberg Riesling & Grüner Veltliner
Grüner Veltliner "M" & Unendlich
Today we waste no time and head directly to the top of FX Pichler's range.
F.X. Pichler casts a very big shadow. Pichler has been a key player in putting Austrian wine on the world stage.
There's an undeniable magic to the wines: there's a crystalline, glossy, sexy presentation of fruit, a sort of over-the-top swagger and glide, yet for all of this show, the wines are ruthlessly clear, pristine, and transparent.
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Today, I'm happy to offer the four wines that represent the pinnacle of F.X. Pichler's range - Riesling and Grüner from Kellerberg, Grüner "M" and Riesling Undendlich, all from the 2012 vintage.
The 2012 vintage in Austria is one that we're really happy with and grow more fondly of with each passing week. The vintage combines fairly lavish textures with a dynamic acid backbone. There's a weight to the wines, but also an elegance and nimbleness. It's a beautiful, impressive marriage.
To start with Kellerberg, this is one of Austria's greatest sites - many would place it at the very top. And when you taste Kellerberg, it's obvious why this is. The wines are simply so complete - they are everything. They are luxurious and long and detailed and incredibly finessed. Whether Riesling or Grüner, Kellerberg is statuesque, commanding, muscular and ultra-fine.
Turning to the Grüner "M," the "M" stands for monumental and this is an epic wine. Grüner "M" is just colossal in its architecture, its saturating complexity. Keeping with the Pichler style, "M" walks the edge of extremity with expert judgment. This is to say that it's intense, concentrated and somehow remains agile.
Finally, there's Unendlich. "Unendlich" translates to "never-ending" - a reference to the unimaginable length of this wine, and certainly not the quantity available. Indeed this is among the rarest Austrian Rieslings - these are the only bottles available in the country. If F.X. Pichler's Riesling Kellerberg is the most finessed, most mineral expression in the stable, the "Unendlich" adds flesh and depth while retaining the same focus and pristine elegance. Razor-thin layer after razor-thin layer of crystalline fruit, glossy shards of green apple, pear, apricot, peach, mango and more.
For fans of Pichler, 2012 is a vintage that's really successful here. The signature of the 2012 vintage dovetails beautifully with Pichler's style. The wines are archetypal Pichlers - powerful, crystal clear and soil-expressive.
I wanted to focus on Pichler's top wines for this offer (it's hard work to find enough quantity), because the 2012 vintage is such a beautiful representation of Pichler's greatness and these wines boldly declare this.
Sadly, I have to finish with a warning: quantities are limited. Please give us your ideal order and we'll try our best.
To order, reply to offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits