WTN / WT101: Hirsch 2004 "Veltliner #1" Kamptal Grüner Veltliner

[Robin Garr]

<table border="0" align="right" width="115"><tr><td><img src="http://www.wineloverspage.com/graphics1/hirs0403.jpg" border="1" align="right"></td></tr></table>Hirsch 2004 "Veltliner #1" Kamptal Grüner Veltliner ($10)

This wine's clear golden color is transparent and very pale, typical of GV, and its white-fruit and green-pea aromas are similarly characteristic of the grape. Crisp and citric, dry and tart, it's a bit on the simple side, but mouth-watering and food-friendly, with an attractive touch of "rainwater" minerality developing as the wine warms in the glass. (The producer numbers this screw-capped bottling sequentially, by the way; the 2004 vintage is marketed in Europe as "Veltliner #3," but the U.S. label retains "#1" for all vintages.) U.S. importer: Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; a Terry Theise Estate Selection. (April 3, 2006)

<B>FOOD MATCH:</b> One of the most versatile and food-friendly of wines, GV pairs well with veal or pork, poultry and fish, and it's developing a reputation as an exceptional match with Asian fare. It passed that test well with a simple "fusion" dish that added a touch of Southeast Asian spice to light veal <I>polpettone in brodo</I>.

<B>VALUE:</B> Although more dollars might bring more lean and structured and perhaps more complex GV, it's going to be hard to find a better white wine than this in the $10 range.

<B>WHEN TO DRINK:</B> Drink it now or hold it for 5 to 10 years under good cellar conditions: Another aspect of GV's appeal is that you can drink it young or drink it old with satisfaction.

<B>WEB LINK:</B> The Hirsch Website is colorful and content-rich, available in German and English. (The home page comes up in German; click the "English" link in the right-hand column to summon the alternate site.)

<B>FIND THESE WINES ONLINE:</B>
Find vendors and compare prices for Hirsch Grüner Veltliner on Wine-Searcher.com.

Note that Hannes Hirsch bottles his entire prodiction under screwcaps since vintage 2003.

Hi Michael. We don't see nearly enough of you on the forum, good to see you posting again.

[Robin Garr]

Note that Hannes Hirsch bottles his entire prodiction under screwcaps since vintage 2003.

Hello, Michael! Good to see you ... and thank you for the factoid. I have had earlier Hirsch vintages under cork, and did not know that the change was universal throughout the line.

[David M. Bueker]

Some 2002 wines from Hirsch are also under screwcap. The 2002 Riesling Gaisberg was capped, but back then the Veltliner #1 was under synthetic.

A delicious little quaffer, this Hirsch "#1". It's been consistent on the two or three vintages I've found at Garnet. Can't beat it for $10, I say. For another lovely little Veltliner at a similar price, there's Fritsch's, which I think retails for around $11.

Hannes Hirsch started to bottle his top Grüner Veltliner (Lamm) and Riesling (Heiligenstein) under screwcap with the vintage 2002. There was an early (April 2003) and late (September 2003) bottling; the labels mention "April" or "September". Beginning with vintage 2003 all wines went under screwcap, and the top wines were all bottled at one time in autumn 2004.