2002 Pannobile

Prompted by numerous impressive bottles that had come my way over the past several years, I visited this address, where behind a traditional facade on a quiet street stands another of Burgenland's numerous new, spacious, dramatically designed cellars. Achs' 51 acres are planted almost entirely to red varieties, although this should not be taken by consumers as a license to ignore his often very good whites. Pinot Noir, with which he has scored significant success, was first planted at the estate in 1989, "but not in our best sites," explains Achs, "because those would be too warm. " That said, in 2003, Achs found himself picking pinot on August 21. (Vin Divino, Chicago, IL) Also recommended: 2001 Chardonnay Alte Reben, 2003 Blaufrankisch Spiegel.