KRACHER 'Weinlaubenhof' Trockenbeerenauslese No 10 Welschriesling 'Nouvelle Vague' 2000 HALF

Description

The Kracher Winery lies in the Seewinkel area of Austria´s Burgenland. Here, through the evaporative periods of Lake Neusiedl, the evening fog and the warm Pannonian climate, continuous warm-humid weather patterns are dominant and, therefore, allow for Botrytis cinerea to be generated. This is what provides the basis for the fantastic sweet wines such as Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese.

From the grape varieties Welschriesling, Chardonnay, Traminer, Scheurebe, Muskat-Ottonel and, from time to time even Zweigelt, Alois Kracher created each year 10 to 15 different Trockenbeerenauslesen wines in two different styles.

Zwischen den Seen (“in between the lakes”) are the wines which are matured in large wooden barrels or steel tanks, and undergo long yeast contact in order to deliver freshness, fruit und primary grape aromas into the bottle. The wines of the Nouvelle Vague line are marked by barrique ageing with air exchange during maturation. Vivid and lively in taste, depth, spiciness and length are these wines notable characteristics.

The special love with which he treated the different grape varieties, along with his tireless discussions and efforts that encompassed both tradition and innovation, plus his courage to walk - representing a small family business - amongst the big wine dynasties of the world brought Alois Kracher countless awards and vast recognition. Not the least of the tributes was his being honoured by Great Britain´s renowned Wine Magazine with the coveted "Wine Maker of the Year" title for an impressive seven times - in 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006 and 2008.

Alois Kracher, who died in December 2007, will always be remembered as one of the most important ambassadors for Austrian Wine all over the world.

Today, Gerhard manages the winery with the help of his life-in partner Yvonne and his mother Michaela.

Robert Parker 99/100 - "Given the gelatinous nature and increasing power of the previous wines, readers may understand the trepidation with which I approached the 2000 #10 Welschriesling Trockenbeerenauslese Zwischen den Seen (5.5% alcohol, 399.6 grams residual sugar/liter, and 7.8 grams/liter total acidity), particularly after seeing it ooze its way from the bottle to my glass. Bronze-colored and molasses-scented, this is a wine of awesome depth, density, and richness. Akin to drinking honey (yet no honey has ever been this complex), its super-thick, voluminous personality bastes the palate with oily apricot and canned peach flavors. Through the viscous morass of fruit, a piercing underlying acidity can be discerned. Given the fact that acidity and sugar are preservatives, this wine will undoubtedly outlast its cork, and may outlive its bottle!"