2002 Blaufränkisch Goldberg

Engelbert Prieler now enjoys the active support of his daughter Silvia, who studied microbiology. Together they are building on the work of past generations, when this estate concentrated on chardonnay and pinot blanc. Today their focus is on blaufrankisch, which thrives on the elevated, windy slopes of the stony Goldberg. In the better vintages a single-vineyard Goldberg Blaufrankisch is produced, with the 2002 being the best release to date. Silvia has also shown a capable hand for pinot noir, which she vinifies in limited quantities. This talented young winemaker views the 2004 vintage in Burgenland as one that produced white wines that combine fresh fruit, minerality and good aging potential and red wines of astonishing fruit expression, concentration and character.(Terry Theise)

Prieler and his enologist daughter Silvia are crafting some of the most refined and interesting dry wines in Burgenland. The 2002 reds here are particularly impressive, swelling the number of Burgenland successes from this vintage that entirely belie the August rains. If you had managed your vines well and could wait to pick, explains Engelbert Prieler, you ended up with advanced phenolic ripeness and excellent concentration. (Terry Theise) Also recommended: 2003 Chardonnay Sinner, 2002 Pinot Noir (bottled under the Silvia Prieler label).