Today has been G-day. A day that has been a celebration of all things Gruner.
Firstly, we have approved the final blend of the Hahndorf Hill GRU Gruner Veltliner 2012, which we will bottle in one week’s time. This will be our third vintage of this exciting grape variety and putting together the final blend today is no less exciting than the previous times before. This is perhaps because working with a shimmering creature such as GV is always going to be fun and challenging at the same time – such a versatile creature with so many possible options and endpoints.
Today was also the local Adelaide Hills ‘Gruner Grower’s Group’ meeting. Several times a year all the individual growers of Gruner in the Adelaide Hills meet to discuss progress and strategy. Right now we consist of an interesting group of innovative producers who have already produced, or who are about to produce, a Gruner label.
The group includes the following producers:
Hahndorf Hill and K1 Geoff Hardy – both producers have already brought out a Gruner label.
Deviation Road, Longview, Henschke, Mt Bera Vineyard, Nepenthe, The Pawn, Pike & Joyce and Nova Vita – all of whom will be bringing out a Gruner label in the next 1-2 years.
Today at the meeting, we all had the privilege of tasting the K1 Geoff Hardy Gruner Veltliner 2012, which has not yet been bottled. Already it is showing luscious stone fruit, citrus peel and a wonderful mouth feel.
Prager ‘Zwerithaler’ Gruner Veltliner, Smaragd 2007
So what better way to end the day than to break open a bottle of Prager ‘Zwerithaler’ Gruner Veltliner, Smaragd 2007?
Franz Prager, one of the past patriarchs of this noble Weingut which dates back to the 14th century, was jointly responsible for establishing the Codex Wachau, which is a charter established in 1983 in the Wachau wine region of Lower Austria. This charter, which is adhered to by many local producers, is a declaration of determination to produce natural wines under strict conditions of quality control.
The wine is a bright golden yellow. It has a honeyed, candied-orange peel nose with stone fruit and crushed rocket. Full, round and textured on the palate, but retains some marvellous zesty freshness which weaves its way between candied citrus peel, bitter almond and crushed herbs. Ends with a gob smacker of pithy, spicy texture.
Available at East End Cellars, Adelaide.