Tried these two last night:
1. Weingut Schneeweis Tausendeimerberd Riesling Smaragd trocken Wachau (14%; Balanced Wine Slctns/Sonoma) Weingut Schneeweis/Spitz/Donau/Austria 2013: Med.dark gold color; beautiful ripe/R/mango/floral/spicy light petrol/Mosel valve oil some mineral/perfumed talc/spicy quite complex nose; lightly tart quite rich/lush near dry intense ripe/mango/R/floral/gardenias light tangy/steely/chalky/perfumed talc quite complex flavor; very long/lingering intense R/floral/gardenias/mango/ripe R some mineral/chalky quite rich/lush/ripe very complex finish; a beautiful mature Smaragd R that should go out another 6-10 yrs.
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2. EdmundsStJohn Syrah NorthCanyonRd/ElDoradoCnty (12.9%; 69% FenaughtyVnyd/31% BarsottiRanch) P&B by Thumbnail Moonlight/Fairplay 2013: Very dark color w/ slight bricking; lovely very strong blackberry/Syrah/spicy some ElD/earthy/mushroomy light pencilly/oak slight black pepper/smokey somewhat complex nose; fairly tart/tangy bit lean/tight strong blackberry/Syrah/earthy/mushroomy quite spicy/peppery/bit loamy light pencilly/oak some complex bit rustic flavor w/ light tangy tannins; very long tart/tangy bit lean/tight strong ElD/mushroomy/blackberry/Syrah/earthy light smokey/pencilly/oak bit rustic bit complex finish w/ light tight/tangy tannins; speaks strongly of ElD Syrah but seems a bit lean/narrow/pinched right now; needs aother 2-5 yrs yet.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. BalancedWineSlctns was an importer who also did DtC sales. They had a terrific portfolio of Austrian & Slovene wines & I regularly bought a fair amount from them. Alas, they are no longer in business.
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2. I liked the EdStJ Syrah well enough but was expecting a bit more. It just seemed a little tight & closed right now. But I suspect age will help this wine. Steve's wines have this way of coming up & biting you on the a$$ down the road with some age & I expect that will happen w/ this Syrah.
Tom