I have never tasted a Zweigelt before- so I am excited. This one rolled in at $15 but I am concerned about seepage. I know screw caps are supposed to be invincible but this one was wet with a thick purple liquid on the inside of the screw cap.
The color is nice- rich purple. The nose is interesting, a melding of black cherry, charred oak, red currants and rhubarb. On the palate it is very fruit forward with very lithe tannins. It’s quite focused on red fruit flavors and some star anise. Mid palate-wise there’s a new twist with some cocoa dust, rhubarb and juicy acidity. The finish is decent in length and has a nice tannic streak that leaves my mouth a touch dry. Very nicely balanced. It’s not a very complex wine but it drinks well and would pair great with Duck l’Orange, marinated Sirloin or Lamb chops. My inexperience with this Austrian varietal makes it difficult to score but I would say it gets 89 points, with a drinking window until 2025. 4 Stars, Salut….
