Hello and welcome to this week’s dig through the pile of wine samples that show up asking to be tasted. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of Vinography Unboxed, where I highlight some of the better bottles that have crossed my doorstep recently.
This week included some offerings from a Prince. Specifically the Prince of Liechtenstein, whose family owns a winery in Austria, and vineyards in both Austria and Liechtenstein. The royal family has been making wine at the Hofkellerei des Fürsten Von Liechtenstein since 1712, and currently employs consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt for its efforts in Liechtenstein, and Josef Stumvoll for their work in Austria. The two wines I’m recommending this week come from the far northeast of Austria, and are both field blends of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. They’re both quite different, but both tasty.
I’ve long enjoyed the wines of Fort Ross Vineyard, perched above the town of Fort Ross on the farthest western edge of the Sonoma Coast. This week I’m recommending their Chardonnay, as well as a couple of their Pinots, and their very special Pinotage, which has long been one of the better bottlings of that variety in the world. My favorite of the wines this week was their Terraces Pinot, which has a lovely elegance and purity with a gorgeous texture.
Stewart Johnson from Kendric Vineyards in Marin dropped off a couple of wines this week, his Loup Solitaire Pinot Noir and his Syrah, which I found really pretty, with an attractive smoky berry quality.
Sarah and Chris Pittenger’s Gros Ventre Cellars makes a wide variety of artisan wines from Sonoma County and the Sierra Foothills, and this week I’m reviewing one of their single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and their version of a passetoutgrains blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. Both are very tasty, but the Baranoff Vineyard Pinot is quite special with a sensual quality that can’t be beat.
Lastly, I’ve got two wines to recommend from Two Shepherds Winery, their old-vine Carignan, which is made with 50% whole-cluster fermentation and comes across as crunchy and boisterous, as well as their Pinot Meunier, which has an earthier funk to it and will appeal to those who like savory qualities in their light-bodied red wines.
Notes on all these below!
Tasting Notes
2021 Hofkellerei des Fürsten Von Liechtenstein “Ried Karlsberg Cuvée Trocken” White Blend, Niederösterreich, Austria
Light to medium gold in the glass, this wine smells of wet pavement, white flowers, white peaches, and pears. In the mouth, Asian pear flavors mix with a touch of stone fruit, as a crackling stony minerality pervades the palate. Hints of green herbs emerge in the finish. Outstanding acidity and stoniness. A blend of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. 2.7 g/L residual sugar. 13% alcohol. Score: around 9. Cost: $??
2022 Hofkellerei des Fürsten Von Liechtenstein “Herrnbaumgarten” White Blend, Niederösterreich, Austria
Light yellow-gold in the glass, this wine smells of apricots, pears, and a hint of lemongrass. In the mouth, brisk flavors of ripe pear and stone fruits have a stony wet chalkboard quality and excellent acidity. Notes of Asian pear and a hint of citrus zest linger in the finish. A blend of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. 1.5 g/L residual sugar. 12.5% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $25. click to buy.
2022 Fort Ross Vineyard Chardonnay, Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma, California
Light yellow-gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon zest, vanilla, and pastry cream. In the mouth, flavors of lemon curd, toasted hazelnuts, vanilla pastry cream, and a touch of nutmeg have a silky texture and decent acidity. I’d love a little more zip here, and there’s just a touch too much toastiness for my taste, but this is a well-made wine. Spends 11 months in 30% new French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 13.5% alcohol. 340 cases made. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost:…
Source : https://www.vinography.com/2025/03/vinography-unboxed-week-of-3-15-25
