2000 Blaufränkisch G

Engelbert Gesellmann was one of the first Austrian vintners to plant international red wine varieties and to work with small French oak barrels.After gathering experience in South Africa and California, his son Albert joined the family winery and together they developed one of the leading wineries of the so-called Blaufrankisch land.Unlike most of their colleagues in this region, they not only produce wine from virtually all of the important red varieties available in Austria, but also very good dry white and convincing sweet wines.Opus Eximum, a blend of blaufrankisch, pinot noir, St. Laurent and cabernet sauvignon, was created in 1988.The Gesellmanns were among the first in Austria to offer a Bordeaux-style blend, releasing the first vintage ofBela Rex in 1992.Their newest creation, the Cuvee G, is a blend of blaufrankisch and St. Laurent that was matured for 40 months in new oak barrels.The Gesellmanns combine traditional viticulture and vines up to 80 years old with the latest vinification techniques. (No known U.S. importer) Also recommended: 2004 Chardonnay (88), 2004 Sauvignon Blanc (89), 2003 St. Laurent (87), 2003 Syrah (88).