This is Nikolaihof without the second “f” Home - Nikolaihof
Very very good wines; they are one of the very few wineries being Demeter-certified (which is a step above organic), if interested see here: https://demeter.net/
I recently stopped cellaring any Austrian producers besides FXPichler, Hirtzberger and Nikolaihof, sometimes in good years Knoll and former Freie Weingärtner Wachau, now Domäne Wachau Domäne Wachau.
I would have but I already had it on order.
Interesting. I cellar mostly (but not exclusively) Gobelsburg, Brundlmayer and Nigl, with just smatterings of other things.
If you like FX Pichler and Knoll, I would add Hirtzberger to your list. 2013 is proably the best vintage of the past decade. I think 2019 will turn out very nicely. There hasn’t been a bad vintage since 2014, though 2018 in particular was very hot and wouldn’t be my first choice.
You have some nice responses already. I have the most experience with what used to be the Terry Theise portfolio, through Skurnik, now just Skurnik. Producers I buy are Alzinger, Brundlmayer, Hiedler, Hirsch, Gobelsburg, Nigl, Nikolaihof. There are plenty of other excellent producers, and no doubt many more we never see here in the US market.
Thanks!
Is it one you would compare with a Trimbach CFE
No. It’s very different. Still amazing, but a completely different expression of Riesling.
I love Prager, Alzinger, Hirtzberger, and Nikolaihof.
It could’t be more different, Both are fantastic wines, but stylistically they are worlds apart.
Nikolaihof wines tend to be richer, fatter, and more oxidative in style.
Interestingly enough, last night we opened '01 Trimbach Riesling Clos St. Hune, '01 Trimbach Frèdèric Èmile 375th Anniversary, '95 Nikolaihof Riesling Vinothek, and '02 Nikolaihof Riesling Vinothek. Every bottle was fantastic. Every bottle improved *significantly *over the 5 or so hours after they were opened. I would say, despite having previously felt that the '95 Vinothek was one of the two best Rieslings I’ve ever tasted (along with the '73 Clos St. Hune), the '01 Frèdèric Èmile was my wine of the night. Barely.
Nikolaihof’s Steiner Hund is less extreme stylistically than the Vinothek, but still needs to be aged and is very different than Trimbach’s Rieslings…
Huh…fat is not a word I would use for Nikolaihof Rieslings. Maybe dense? There’s lots of material to unpack in the upper tier Nikolaihof wines.
Dense is indeed a much better descriptor.
I’ve always liked Nikholaihof although not every wine is successful due to (what I understand) is an adventurous nature, as the Saahs‘ family has not been afraid to take risks over the last few decades. Ok in my book.
But their density and emphasis on textural qualities may not be for everyone. I’ve been surprised by a number of experienced testers who over the years have told me they don’t like the wines or don’t like a particular wine I’ve thought was spectacular. Although it’s always the case that everyone has their own preferences and tastes, and wines hit different palates differently, the Nikholaihof comments have surprised me.
It’s funny; I need to post a few tasting notes (hopefully today), but a number of us just had a 2002 Nikolaihof Vinothek alongside a 2021 Felseneck and oof, that Nikolaihof was…uh…I’m not sure between the four of us we finished half the bottle. Compared to the Felseneck the palate on that wine lands with a resounding and very dense (and bitter) thud.
I relate to this comment. I adore Austrian wines and actively seek out Alzinger, Prager, Hirtzberger, and Brundlmayer. But not Nikolaihof. I’ve had some good ones but way too many that I found weird or bitter of just not that satisfying. Not sure I’ve ever had an Alzinger or Prager that I didn’t enjoy.
They can be weird. And sometimes it’s hard to tell if a lot of air will help or not.
The last Rieslingfeier I recall with their lineup, about 6 or 7 wines, I recall thinking most good and/or interesting, a couple WTF. Since then, mostly hits. I can’t remember if I’ve had the 2002 Vinothek Greg mentioned, but Vikothek (again par for course) can be weird at different ages and often needs tons of air.
Prager, by contrast, always good and that juicy quality that Bodenstein attains seemingly in every wine.
If there is Nikolaihof wine in a lineup that I am certain to dislike it will be a Vinothek bottling. I nearly always adore everything else they do, though the Neuberger can also be a bit odd at times.
Vinothek can be weird, but good ones are fabulous (e.g. the '95).
As much as I enjoy Nikolaihof’s wines, Alzinger and Prager are much more consistent and are my go to Austrian producers.
I have particularly enjoyed Nikolaihof’s Steinriesler wines, which receive long aging before bottling - 12 years or so. They have not come off as dense to me, either, but rather as full-flavored without excess weight.
Austrian Grüner Veltliner pairs exceptionally well with roast turkey. Chose a fuller bodied, but NOT OVERRIPE wine and enjoy!
Pulling an older (mid to late 1990s) Grüner Veltliner for a dinner later this week. It will be Nigl, Brundlmayer, or Schloss Gobelsburg. First bottle I lay my hands on wins.