Green bean, fennel, and diverse wildflowers scent the nose of the 2006 Gruner Veltliner Weinzierlberg. Succulent and rich as well as palpably dense, this nevertheless displays a delightful sense of lift and elegance on the palate. A tactile sense of almost tannic bite and black tea bitterness offer attractive counterpoint to the wine’s almost sweet sense of sheer ripeness. The finish positively gushes with clear, ripe, refreshing, salt- and tea-tinged essence of Gruner Veltliner. The city of Krems owns 20 acres of Gruner Veltliner in the Weinzierlberg, so wine lovers can easily indulge in this excellent value. Fritz Miesbauer waited patiently and harvested well into November to achieve ripeness. The results were mixed, but the successes more than uphold this estate’s growing reputation for good value. Miesbauer is now also responsible for the wines of the Gottweig monastery whose vinification and packaging have undergone a major overhaul. The early results are promising, if not yet comparable to those at Stadt KremsImporter: Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700 These wines are also imported by Vin Divino