The Prieler 2007 Chardonnay Sinner displays fresh apple and toasted almond on a succulent, pure-fruited palate – reinforced by an unexpected hint of residual sweetness – and a trace of heat in its finish. It may well (as the 2007 Pinot Blanc surely will) gain some complexity in bottle over the next year or two, but this polished performance ought not to be ignored at table (or in blind tastings) where one is inclined (or determined) to present a Chardonnay. The quality of 2006 for Burgenland’s premier red variety fully merited the late bottling practiced by Prielers, with the result that I have still not tasted from bottle three that were still in cask until last September.Importer: Terry Theise Estate Selections, imported by Michael Skurnik Wines, Inc., Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300

Prieler’s 2006 Chardonnay Sinner demonstrates that even that still ubiquitous grape didn’t want to be left behind in her 2006 collection, and has over-achieved. Apple, Persian melon, fresh herbs, and a chalky-mineral dust note on the nose lead to a palate of utmost subtlety and refinement of texture for this variety, lacking the nutty depth or mineral fascination of a Prieler Pinot Blanc, but with an excellent balance of creaminess and clear fruit, and chalk and with the bitterness of apple pit and pungency of herbs providing further finishing counterpoint. Importer: Terry Theise Estate Selections, imported by Michael Skurnik Wines, Inc., Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300