WTN: 2009 Ignaz Niedrist Berger Gei Lagrein Gries Alto Adige

Hi,
Has anyone tasted this wine?

Was my first encounter with wines from the Alto Adige area, and first I have ever heard of the Lagrien grape.
And I thought one cannot expect to have new red wine experiences in the South-Tyrol region.

I searched and found several 90+ reviews of previous years. Have not idea how 2009 ranks.
I liked this wine, its young and fruity but very round and smooth.
29 Euro at the restaurant, 20 Euro to take out.

Thanks,

Eli

Was my first encounter with wines from the Alto Adige area, and first I have ever heard of the Lagrien grape.
And I thought one cannot expect to have new red wine experiences in the South-Tyrol region.

Given Lagrein, Marzemino, Schiava/Vernatsch, and especially Teroldego, that is indeed a curious expectation. And the Pinot Nero! So many fun things to explore there redwinewise!

Lagrein can be made in a variety of styles, from rosé to very deeply colored 'big red.' Niedrist's 'Berger Gei' is towards the 'big red' end of the spectrum; the vineyard is owned by Ignaz's wife's family, and is in Gries, one of the best areas for the Lagrein grape. Aged in barriques, some new (no new wood apparent, at least to my taste). These wines age well, IME.

I import Niedrist for my market.

Keith, Oliver,

Thanks for the feedback. Indeed it was a "big red" but not aggresive in any way.
From my google research I gather that Gries is now part of Bolzano.
While I was there I called the the listed number with the help of my hotel recepetion and a young girl replied that the entire family is busy with the harvest and work in the winery.
I now have two bottles and I plan to have them age for at least a couple of years.
Eli

How about the Kalterersee?

[Jenise]

Given Lagrein, Marzemino, Schiava/Vernatsch, and especially Teroldego, that is indeed a curious expectation. And the Pinot Nero! So many fun things to explore there redwinewise!

Eli, I once took an aged Lagrein to a brown bag (single blind) geek lunch and the boys actually suspected it was Bordeaux. They of course then went all over the globe with their guesses and got nowhere, sputtering all the way that a wine THAT good could be something they didn't already know about. I've also had some that tasted like plastic shower curtains. The grape seems to have a lot of different expressions.

Keith, what's marzemino like? Just yesterday I looked at a bottle of it, and passed (afraid of more plastic shower curtains).

Keith, what's marzemino like? Just yesterday I looked at a bottle of it, and passed (afraid of more plastic shower curtains).

Huh?? Plastic shower curtains??

Not Keith, but.....Marzemino typically produces quite a pretty wine. Lots of bright cherry perfume w/ a touch of earthiness. Usually not a
very big wine. Sometimes a bit frizzante. Often like a lighter MendoCnty Zin in character.
Mostly famous because of the Mozart/DonGiovanni connection.
Too bad nobody has tried it in Calif as I think it'd make quite a nice wine. Alas, FPS doesn't have it in its collection.
Tom

How about the Kalterersee?

What about it?

Given Lagrein, Marzemino, Schiava/Vernatsch, and especially Teroldego, that is indeed a curious expectation. And the Pinot Nero! So many fun things to explore there redwinewise!

Eli, I once took an aged Lagrein to a brown bag (single blind) geek lunch and the boys actually suspected it was Bordeaux. They of course then went all over the globe with their guesses and got nowhere, sputtering all the way that a wine THAT good could be something they didn't already know about. I've also had some that tasted like plastic shower curtains. The grape seems to have a lot of different expressions.

Keith, what's marzemino like? Just yesterday I looked at a bottle of it, and passed (afraid of more plastic shower curtains).

Maybe the shower curtain thing was just reduction, to which most of those 'mountain varieties' seem to be prone (Lagrein, Marzemino, Teroldego, Schiava...). Next time try putting the cork back in and shaking the bottle vigorously for a few seconds.

How about the Kalterersee?

What about it?

I was wondering if you imported it. I bought a bottle and enjoyed it this weekend, not quite as funky as I had hoped.

I do; we are now the uncrowned kings of Schiava/Vernatsch, I think we have 5 wines made all or mostly from the variety. People are much more willing to drink lighter reds these days, thank heavens, perhaps after Sideways.