Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:Bill, you and others, have confirmed that these GV`s need a little cellar time, so I am not giving up on a recent couple of seemingly average buys!!
Bob, I think this is especially true when dealing with Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal wines. I've also heard that Wieninger from Wien (Vienna) makes wines that will continue to hold (the last 2001 I tried from them was corked). I haven't had too much experience with extremely old bottles, but I'm inclined to think (and have been told) that Smaragd wines from the Wachau will go for decades. They are roughly the equivalent of Auslese Trocken from Germany. Federspiel aren't generally made to last as long, which is why I felt it was time to open this one -and think in this case I was right. Others might attest to Federspiel gaining even longer. You might find that GV from Burgenland (which is really red wine country anyway) won't age well. I have been surprised by a delicious older Pinot Blanc from there though. I've also had an awesome Roter Veltliner recently from 1990 (from the Donauland). If you run across some older wines, I'd love to get your take on them.
Prost!
Bill