A Vocabulary Impossible to Master
1997 Nikolaihof Riesling
Vinothek 750s & Magnums
Nikolaihof's Vinotheks are some of the most soulful, pensive and mysterious wines on the planet.
They are utterly singular expressions. They're utterly compelling, as well.
They are incredibly nuanced and integrate a hugely complex vocabulary that is nearly impossible to master.The wine seems to ricochet through the natural world, bouncing from floral to earth, to stone fruits, to minerality in dynamic interplay.
The 1997 marks the fifth Vinothek release and the third Riesling release. It seems poised to be amongst the most impressive Vinotheks to date.
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For us, this is one Austria's most important bottles. More importantly, there's nothing else like it in the world of fine wine.
In the Wachau, 1997 is one of the great vintages of the past twenty-five years. The 1997 Riesling Vinothek shows the intensity, the precision and general completeness of the vintage incredibly well.
The decision to make a "Vinothek" at Nikolaihof is made at a very young age, based on a certain potential, on a certain indescribable quality.
Once the decision is made, however, the rest is just patience. Vinotheks are held back, kept in large oak casks, undisturbed, for a very long time - 17 years in this case.
Because of their unique, oxidative aging process, "Vinotheks" develop for a long time once open - in fact they very much need air. Opening this bottle many hours before you drink it, even a day before, will only bring the wine out of its shell.
There's simply no other bottle on earth like Nikolaihof's Vinothek. It's an endlessly fascinating and profoundly haunting bottle.
To order, reply to offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits