Harvested the 23rd and 29th of November, Hirtzberger’s 2004 Gruner Veltliner Rotes Tor smells of grapefruit, toasted almonds, and cinnamon. In the mouth, this medium-bodied, alluringly silken-textured example of Gruner Veltliner displays juicy pineapple fruit and a hint of beet root, along with a continuation of the almond and cinnamon themes. The finish is bright, subtly salty, and persistently juicy and spicy. While only barely above 13% alcohol – the minimum Hirtzberger sets as a standard for Smaragd – this wine is in no way deficient in ripeness of flavor nor in the distinctive richness of texture that sets it stylistically apart from its more delicate Federspiel counterpart. Importer: Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700