Triumvirate

Elmar Schauß is a little-known producer from Monzingen on the Nahe. Although, if you have Emrich-Schönleber as one of your neighbours, it's not hard to be overshadowed somewhat. Be that as it may, this wine is imported to Switzerland, so Herr Schauß must be doing something right.

Weingut Schauß, Riesling Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Hochgewächs trocken "vom Rotliegenden" 2011, Nahe, Germany
Exotic nose with tropical fruit to begin with, then gradually giving way to candied lemon and blossom. Lovely yellow fruit (apricot) with some peach to boot. Those are all the vague tasting notes I made, but this is genuinely good stuff.

Moving on to something completely different now, here's a powerful red blend from Austria:


Weingut Muenzenrieder, Grand Cuvee 2006, Neusiedlersee, Austria
Dark ruby with purpley/velvety hints. Notes of chocolate and herbs on the nose, along with super-ripe dark fruit. Quite mellow and viscous on the palate, with rippling, bustling tannins and a cool yet dense mouthfeel. Drinking great seven and a bit years since harvest, but there is still potential for improvement in terms of the tannins bedding in, I would say.

Completing this unlikely triumvirate, an Austrian "GrüVe":

Weingut Weinrieder, Grüner Veltliner Vinotheksfüllung 2009, Weinviertel, Austria
Light matt yellow. A dense, concentrated nose with peppery notes as well as slight oak cask hints on the one hand and a faint vegetable whiff on the other. The latter I would describe along the lines of fennel and sweaty socks ... Very forceful on the palate. Yellow fruit and cream, with a salty notes lending balance. Quite chewy. The finish is long.
 
This final wine was my favourite by a small margin, but all three shone in their own particular way.