{"title":"Austria","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"36\" data-end=\"286\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eDiscover Austria's finest wines, from crisp Grüner Veltliner and elegant Riesling to world-renowned sweet wines and refined reds. Explore premium Austrian wines from renowned regions including Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal, Burgenland, and Neusiedlersee.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"kracher-auslese-muscat-ottonel-2019-375ml","title":"Kracher Auslese Muscat Ottonel 2019 375ml","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 54, 136);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis lively and elegant sweet wine from Kracher is made entirely from Muskat Ottonel grapes. It’s bright and aromatic, with enticing notes of tangerine, passion fruit, and jasmine, balanced by refreshing acidity and a touch of honey on the finish. Perfect chilled as an aperitif or paired with mildly spicy Asian food, fruity desserts, or fresh goat cheese.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Wine Advocate | \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(145, 9, 3);\"\u003eRP 92\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ePublished: May 13, 2021\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eDrink: 2021-2032\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2019 Muskat Ottonel Auslese is clear and spicy on the floral and fruity-scented bouquet that is bright and mineral and highly stimulating. Round and juicy yet refined and filigreed on the palate, this is a light and sweet yet perfectly balanced and animating Auslese with fine lemon-zest grip and salinity on the finish. Tasted in April 2021.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sc-frbSaM fjILMW\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn 2019, Kracher did not produce a pure Chardonnay due to lack of acidity and complexity. Welschriesling is far better; this variety can handle dryness and heat.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn 2018, it was extremely hot and dry. Short rain showers only followed after ripening, after which botrytis rapidly set in. The start of harvest was in the first week of October, and countless selections were made until after Christmas. \"It is always important to hit the acidity peak at harvest time, so we go through each vineyard two to five times, depending on how much botrytis there is. After a small period of regulation in the middle\/end of September, there is an obligatory long dry period of up to six weeks, during which nothing can be harvested. After that, a high impact as well as a perfect harvest time is then required again to bring on the clear, fresh and fruity-elegant style with stimulating saltiness that one strives for at the Weinlaubenhof.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKracher.at\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGrape Variety: 100% Muskat Ottone \u003cbr\u003eResidual Sugar: 100,1 g\/l \u003cbr\u003eAcidity: 5,7 g\/l \u003cbr\u003eAlcohol: 10%vol \u003cbr\u003eVinification: Fermented and matured in stainless steel for a period of 5 months. \u003cbr\u003eTasting Notes: Medium yellow-green color. Attractive aromas of tangerine, passion fruit over jasmine; an enticing bouquet. Succulent, highly elegant and vibrant structure that is refreshing with well integrated acidity. A wine to whet your appetite! Pleasant touch of honey on the finish. \u003cbr\u003eOur Recommendation: Mildly spicy Asian dishes, Curry dishes, Fruity desserts, fresh goat's cheese \u003cbr\u003eEenjoy Best at: 10-12 C\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"1855 The Bottle Shop Pte Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39974384140352,"sku":"WHAT20190877","price":39.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0564\/7728\/6464\/products\/kracher-auslese-muscat-375ml.jpg?v=1760344445"},{"product_id":"kracher-spatlase-cuvee-2019-750ml","title":"Kracher Spatlase Cuvee 2019 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 54, 136);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA fresh and lively blend of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Welschriesling. This wine shows delicate floral aromas and bright yellow fruit flavors with crisp acidity and a smooth, fruity finish. Light and refreshing, it’s perfect as an aperitif or paired with mildly spicy Asian dishes, grilled veggies, and mild cheeses. Best served chilled at 10-12°C.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKracher.at\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGrape Variety: 45% Pinot Blanc, 45% Chardonnay, 10% Welschriesling \u003cbr\u003eResidual Sugar: 69,4 \u003cbr\u003eAcidity: 6 g\/l \u003cbr\u003eAlcohol: 10%vol \u003cbr\u003eVinification: Fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks for 5 months. \u003cbr\u003eTasting Notes: Greenish yellow hue. Delicate floral notes of meadow flowers, with yellow fruit characters on the palate. Crisp with well-integrated acidity and a lingering fruity finish. \u003cbr\u003eOur Recommendation: Aperitif, Mildly spicy Asian dishes, Grilled vegetables, mild hard cheese \u003cbr\u003eEnjoy Best at: 10-12 C\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"1855 The Bottle Shop Pte Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39974385516608,"sku":"WHAT20190874","price":42.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0564\/7728\/6464\/products\/Kracher-Spatlase-Cuvee_327d3e52-6e55-4916-abc0-08d878021c77.jpg?v=1706758573"},{"product_id":"kracher-spatlase-cuvee-2021-750ml","title":"Kracher Spatlase Cuvee 2021 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 54, 136);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA crisp and refreshing blend of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Welschriesling, the 2021 Spätlese Cuvée shows delicate floral aromas and bright yellow fruit flavors. It’s well-balanced with lively acidity and a smooth, fruity finish. Perfect as an aperitif or paired with mildly spicy Asian dishes, grilled veggies, and mild cheeses. Serve chilled at 10–12°C.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKracher.at\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGrape Variety: 45% Pinot Blanc, 45% Chardonnay, 10% Welschriesling \u003cbr\u003eResidual Sugar: 69,4 \u003cbr\u003eAcidity: 6 g\/l \u003cbr\u003eAlcohol: 10% vol \u003cbr\u003eVinification: Fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks for 5 months. \u003cbr\u003eTasting Notes: Greenish yellow hue. Delicate floral notes of meadow flowers, with yellow fruit characters on the palate. Crisp with well-integrated acidity and a lingering fruity finish. \u003cbr\u003eOur Recommendation: Aperitif, Mildly spicy Asian dishes, Grilled vegetables, mild hard cheese \u003cbr\u003eEnjoy Best at: 10-12 C\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"1855 The Bottle Shop Pte Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39974385778752,"sku":"WHAT20210875","price":43.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0564\/7728\/6464\/products\/kracher-spatlase-cuvee-750ml.jpg?v=1757499889"},{"product_id":"kracher-spatlese-rose-2020-750ml","title":"Kracher Spatlese Rose 2020 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 54, 136);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMade from 100% Merlot, this lively Austrian rosé is crisp, juicy, and packed with red berry charm. Bright acidity balances its gentle sweetness, making it super refreshing and food-friendly. Think sorbets, spicy Asian dishes, or just a sunny afternoon. Best served chilled (10–12°C).\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine Advocate \u003cspan\u003e|\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(158, 0, 57); text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRP 90\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ePublished: May 13, 2021\u003cbr\u003eDrink: 2021-2024\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKracher's 2020 Spatlese Rose is a 100% Merlot pressed straight away and vinified in stainless steel for five months. The wine opens with a beautifully clear and fresh floral bouquet with notes of peonies and red berries. Round and juicy on the clear, fresh and elegant palate, this is a frisky, stimulating rose with fine tannin grip and remarkably fresh acidity. Very stimulating indeed with sorbets and many lighter Asian dishes based on veggies and seafood. Drink it young. Tasted in April 2021.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn 2019, Kracher did not produce a pure Chardonnay due to lack of acidity and complexity. Welschriesling is far better; this variety can handle dryness and heat.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn 2018, it was extremely hot and dry. Short rain showers only followed after ripening, after which botrytis rapidly set in. The start of harvest was in the first week of October, and countless selections were made until after Christmas. \"It is always important to hit the acidity peak at harvest time, so we go through each vineyard two to five times, depending on how much botrytis there is. After a small period of regulation in the middle\/end of September, there is an obligatory long dry period of up to six weeks, during which nothing can be harvested. After that, a high impact as well as a perfect harvest time is then required again to bring on the clear, fresh and fruity-elegant style with stimulating saltiness that one strives for at the Weinlaubenhof. \"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling \u003cspan\u003e| \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(158, 0, 57); text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eJS 90\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ePublished: April 6, 2021\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the pretty, red-strawberry and raspberry nose, you'd never think that this was sweet, but it is. And there?s bright acidity that helps this light-bodied wine carry it rather well. Technically spot-on and very refreshing, if a shade on the simple side. Drink now. Screw cap. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKracher.at\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGRAPE VARIETY: 100% Merlot \u003cbr\u003eRESIDUAL SUGAR: 65,3 g\/l \u003cbr\u003eACIDITY: 6,1 g\/l \u003cbr\u003eALCOHOL: 10 %vol \u003cbr\u003eVINIFICATION: Fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks for 5 \u003cbr\u003emonths \u003cbr\u003eTASTING NOTES: Greenish yellow hue. Delicate floral notes of meadow flowers, with yellow fruit characters on the palate. Crisp with well-integrated acidity and a lingering fruity finish \u003cbr\u003eOUR RECOMMENDATION: Aperitif, Mildly spicy Asian dishes, Grilled vegetables, mild hard cheese \u003cbr\u003eENJOY BEST AT: 10-12 C\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"1855 The Bottle Shop Pte Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39974386040896,"sku":"RSAT20200065","price":49.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0564\/7728\/6464\/products\/Kracher-Rose.jpg?v=1706758597"},{"product_id":"kracher-spatlese-rose-2021-750ml","title":"Kracher Spatlese Rose 2021 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 62, 155);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA refreshingly off-dry rosé that brings together juicy red berries and delicate floral notes, this 100% Merlot wine from Austria’s iconic Kracher estate is a fun and versatile bottle. With a screw-cap and low 10% ABV, it’s easy-drinking yet has surprising depth—thanks to crisp acidity and just a touch of tannin on the finish. While the sweetness is notable, it’s beautifully balanced by freshness and finesse, making it a great companion to mildly spicy Asian food, grilled vegetables, or just a sunny afternoon. This rosé shows off Kracher's lighter side, better known for their world-class sweet wines, and proves they can do “fresh and floral” just as well as “rich and noble.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling \u003cspan\u003e| \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(158, 0, 57); text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eJS 91\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ePublished: Nov 17, 2022\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWho can resist the fresh strawberry, cherry and spring-flower aromas of this frankly sweet, but very refreshing rosé. Surprising depth at the long, crisp finish, where there’s just a hint of tannin. Drink now. Screw cap.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine Advocate \u003cspan\u003e|\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(158, 0, 57); text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRP 88\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ePublished: \u003cspan\u003eSep 15, 2022\u003cbr\u003eDrink: 2022-2032\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBased on Zweigelt and Merlot, the 2021 Spätlese Rosé offers a reductive, floral rather than fruity bouquet of redcurrant. Fresh and even piquant on the palate, this is a lean and easy-drinking rosé that is pretty sweet, but it should be excellent to pair with sweet and spicy or even hot-spiced dishes. 8% stated alcohol. Screw-cap closure. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWeinlaubenhof Kracher is the first domaine in the German-speaking countries to be allowed to distribute its wines through the global négociant network of the Place de Bordeaux. Starting in September this year, the 2019 Grande Cuvée Trockenbeerenauslese No. 5 will be distributed via négociants for all the countries except the US and in the home country of Austria. The limited wooden Kracher Collection Box, which contains all seven of the Trockenbeerenauslesen from the 2019 vintage, will be released in October and will also be distributed via the Place de Bordeaux.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Grande Cuvée of Welschriesling and Chardonnay is Kracher's flagship wine in terms of balance, finesse and complexity. Other TBAs may be sweeter, fruitier and even more concentrated, but none is more harmonious, more complete. Welschriesling is a great grape for the sweet wines of Lake Neusiedl, and it can also deliver world-class wines as a soloist—the 2012 TBA No. 7, for example, is rich in flawless perfection—but together with barrel-fermented Chardonnay, it adds a nobility and finesse that is breathtaking even in its youth. Kracher's TBAs are united not only by their rich and precise fruit but also the noble texture and their complexity, which has recently been significantly increased once again: the 2019s were on their lees for 29 long months, longer than ever before. In the finish, especially after several years of bottle aging, Kracher’s TBAs reveal not only spicy and herbal notes but also that persistent saline taste that makes the specific terroir of the Neusiedlersee region tangible in taste.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLake Neusiedl is a steppe lake that long ago was about 10 times larger than it is today. Thus, the vineyards today are located on soils that were once covered by the lake and \"that still have high mineral and salt contents after it dried up,\" as Gerhard Kracher points out. They give the wines a typical mineral note and freshness. \"The specific climate of this nature reserve has provided perfect conditions for the development of Botrytis cinerea for more than 60 years,\" Kracher explains, reflecting the family history of the Weinlaubenhof that became world-famous in the 1990s with Gerhard's father, Alois, who became the ambassador not only for Austrian noble sweet wines but Austrian wines in general. At that time, most of the wines were sweet, but since global warming causes weeks of drought even in autumn and thus less botrytis than in the 1990s, Gerhard Kracher has returned to producing a significant number of dry table wines again as is grandfather did. He also produces a remarkably good pink sparkling wine, and together with his friend Aldo Sohm, star sommelier in New York's Le Bernardin and Sohm's Wine Bar, he handcrafts an impressive little series of dry Grüner Veltliners in both Burgenland and Weinviertel under the Sohm \u0026amp; Kracher brand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, it is forbidden to compare the TBAs from Lake Neusiedl with those from Mosel, Rhine and Nahe, which grow on completely different soils and and under completely different climatic conditions and which are of unique savoriness and refinement, which they preserve for decades and even longer than a century. For many consumers, especially in Asia, these wines are not necessarily too expensive (and God, they are expensive!) but too acidic. They appreciate the rich TBAs from the Seewinkel more, because here the pH levels are higher and the acids are milder. Also, the small, new barriques used for the Nouvelle Vague style chez Kracher give these wines a balanced texture and elegance from the start—something that usually takes a Mosel Riesling two to three decades to achieve.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor 20 years, it has been my desire to try matured Kracher TBAs. This year, Gerhard and I had a few extra hours, and so he opened a whole series of aged TBAs from different vintages, including 2012, 2007 (the first vintage that Gerhard bottled after the early death of his father) and the legendary 2002 but also 2005, 2001 and 1996. All of these rarities prove that Kracher's TBAs are long-distance runners even though they already taste attractive in their youth. Against the backdrop of the matured wines, which before 2007 had been produced and bottled by Gerhard’s father, Alois, the progress Gerhard has made also becomes even clearer. Probably even with the 2019s he has succeeded in his finest collection of TBAs so far. While seven TBAs is not a particularly large yield, the fact that he was able to leave them on their lees longer than usual (29 months instead of 22-24 months), in part due to markets being restrained by the pandemic, means that they seem to have become even fresher, more precise and saltier. Their transparency and finesse, at any rate, is astonishing even in their youth, and so Kracher's 2019s logically achieve the highest ratings his young TBAs have received in The Wine Advocate to date (and the same can be said for the lower predicates). His 2019s have already reached this extraordinary level of precision, finesse and transparency for which many a predecessor had needed a good decade or two after a rather turgid beginning. Kracher's 2019 TBAs and the exceptional form of the 2012s and 2002s, in particular, are further proof that we are dealing with one of the most important and best sweet wine producers in the world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhereby I consider the term “sweet wine” for this kind of immeasurably rich and elegant wines almost a banalization. Kracher's TBAs are not great because they are sweet, but because for all their richness and concentration they remain elegant, fine and sensual, and from an age of 10 or better 20 years they also become remarkably complex and stimulating. One could do an entire menu with these beautifully balanced and pristine textured wines––only to do so, one would first have to own them and leave them alone for a decade or two.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKracher.at\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGRAPE VARIETY: 100% Merlot \u003cbr\u003eRESIDUAL SUGAR: 65,3 g\/l \u003cbr\u003eACIDITY: 6,1 g\/l \u003cbr\u003eALCOHOL: 10 %vol \u003cbr\u003eVINIFICATION: Fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks for 5 \u003cbr\u003emonths \u003cbr\u003eTASTING NOTES: Greenish yellow hue. Delicate floral notes of meadow flowers, with yellow fruit characters on the palate. Crisp with well-integrated acidity and a lingering fruity finish \u003cbr\u003eOUR RECOMMENDATION: Aperitif, Mildly spicy Asian dishes, Grilled vegetables, mild hard cheese \u003cbr\u003eENJOY BEST AT: 10-12 C\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"1855 The Bottle Shop Pte Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40061902749760,"sku":"WHAT20210877","price":44.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0564\/7728\/6464\/files\/kracher-rose-2021-750ml.jpg?v=1755088798"},{"product_id":"kracher-auslese-muscat-ottonel-2020-375ml","title":"Kracher Auslese Muscat Ottonel 2020 375ml","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 54, 136);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA beautifully rich and textured sweet wine from Austria’s Weinlaubenhof Kracher. This Auslese bursts with intense tropical fruit and honeyed botrytis aromas, followed by a lush, round palate with delicate bitters on the finish. Bright and elegant, it perfectly balances sweetness with refreshing acidity, making it a fantastic choice for those who appreciate complexity in a dessert wine.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Wine Advocate | \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(145, 9, 3);\"\u003eRP 91\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ePublished: Sep 15, 2022\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eDrink: 2022-2034\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2020 Auslese Muskat Ottonel offers an intense, deep and spicy as well as honeyed botrytis bouquet with tropical fruit aromas. Rich, round and lush on the palate, this is a dense and textured, mouth-filling Auslese with delicate botrytis bitters on the finish. 10.5% stated alcohol. Screw-cap closure. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sc-hKysef kYcfoa\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWeinlaubenhof Kracher is the first domaine in the German-speaking countries to be allowed to distribute its wines through the global négociant network of the Place de Bordeaux. Starting in September this year, the 2019 Grande Cuvée Trockenbeerenauslese No. 5 will be distributed via négociants for all the countries except the US and in the home country of Austria. The limited wooden Kracher Collection Box, which contains all seven of the Trockenbeerenauslesen from the 2019 vintage, will be released in October and will also be distributed via the Place de Bordeaux.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Grande Cuvée of Welschriesling and Chardonnay is Kracher's flagship wine in terms of balance, finesse and complexity. Other TBAs may be sweeter, fruitier and even more concentrated, but none is more harmonious, more complete. Welschriesling is a great grape for the sweet wines of Lake Neusiedl, and it can also deliver world-class wines as a soloist—the 2012 TBA No. 7, for example, is rich in flawless perfection—but together with barrel-fermented Chardonnay, it adds a nobility and finesse that is breathtaking even in its youth. Kracher's TBAs are united not only by their rich and precise fruit but also the noble texture and their complexity, which has recently been significantly increased once again: the 2019s were on their lees for 29 long months, longer than ever before. In the finish, especially after several years of bottle aging, Kracher’s TBAs reveal not only spicy and herbal notes but also that persistent saline taste that makes the specific terroir of the Neusiedlersee region tangible in taste.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eLake Neusiedl is a steppe lake that long ago was about 10 times larger than it is today. Thus, the vineyards today are located on soils that were once covered by the lake and \"that still have high mineral and salt contents after it dried up,\" as Gerhard Kracher points out. They give the wines a typical mineral note and freshness. \"The specific climate of this nature reserve has provided perfect conditions for the development of Botrytis cinerea for more than 60 years,\" Kracher explains, reflecting the family history of the Weinlaubenhof that became world-famous in the 1990s with Gerhard's father, Alois, who became the ambassador not only for Austrian noble sweet wines but Austrian wines in general. At that time, most of the wines were sweet, but since global warming causes weeks of drought even in autumn and thus less botrytis than in the 1990s, Gerhard Kracher has returned to producing a significant number of dry table wines again as is grandfather did. He also produces a remarkably good pink sparkling wine, and together with his friend Aldo Sohm, star sommelier in New York's Le Bernardin and Sohm's Wine Bar, he handcrafts an impressive little series of dry Grüner Veltliners in both Burgenland and Weinviertel under the Sohm \u0026amp; Kracher brand.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eHowever, it is forbidden to compare the TBAs from Lake Neusiedl with those from Mosel, Rhine and Nahe, which grow on completely different soils and and under completely different climatic conditions and which are of unique savoriness and refinement, which they preserve for decades and even longer than a century. For many consumers, especially in Asia, these wines are not necessarily too expensive (and God, they are expensive!) but too acidic. They appreciate the rich TBAs from the Seewinkel more, because here the pH levels are higher and the acids are milder. Also, the small, new barriques used for the Nouvelle Vague style chez Kracher give these wines a balanced texture and elegance from the start—something that usually takes a Mosel Riesling two to three decades to achieve.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eFor 20 years, it has been my desire to try matured Kracher TBAs. This year, Gerhard and I had a few extra hours, and so he opened a whole series of aged TBAs from different vintages, including 2012, 2007 (the first vintage that Gerhard bottled after the early death of his father) and the legendary 2002 but also 2005, 2001 and 1996. All of these rarities prove that Kracher's TBAs are long-distance runners even though they already taste attractive in their youth. Against the backdrop of the matured wines, which before 2007 had been produced and bottled by Gerhard’s father, Alois, the progress Gerhard has made also becomes even clearer. Probably even with the 2019s he has succeeded in his finest collection of TBAs so far. While seven TBAs is not a particularly large yield, the fact that he was able to leave them on their lees longer than usual (29 months instead of 22-24 months), in part due to markets being restrained by the pandemic, means that they seem to have become even fresher, more precise and saltier. Their transparency and finesse, at any rate, is astonishing even in their youth, and so Kracher's 2019s logically achieve the highest ratings his young TBAs have received in The Wine Advocate to date (and the same can be said for the lower predicates). His 2019s have already reached this extraordinary level of precision, finesse and transparency for which many a predecessor had needed a good decade or two after a rather turgid beginning. Kracher's 2019 TBAs and the exceptional form of the 2012s and 2002s, in particular, are further proof that we are dealing with one of the most important and best sweet wine producers in the world.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhereby I consider the term “sweet wine” for this kind of immeasurably rich and elegant wines almost a banalization. Kracher's TBAs are not great because they are sweet, but because for all their richness and concentration they remain elegant, fine and sensual, and from an age of 10 or better 20 years they also become remarkably complex and stimulating. One could do an entire menu with these beautifully balanced and pristine textured wines––only to do so, one would first have to own them and leave them alone for a decade or two.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKracher.at\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMedium yellow-green. Inviting nuances of mandarins, passion fruit and jasmine, multi-faceted, attractive bouquet. Juicy, very elegant, nutmeg, freshly structured, lively and very well-integrated sweetness, makes you want more, honey touch in the finish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-md-6 additional-info-title\"\u003eAlcohol Content: 10%\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"1855 The Bottle Shop Pte Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40567916462144,"sku":"WHAT20200001","price":39.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0564\/7728\/6464\/products\/kracher-auslese-muscat-375ml.jpg?v=1760344445"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0564\/7728\/6464\/collections\/country_-_austria.jpg?v=1782370983","url":"https:\/\/www.1855thebottleshop.com\/collections\/austria.oembed","provider":"1855 The Bottle Shop Pte Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}