Klosterkeller Siegendorf Austrian Pinot BlancTrockenbeerenauslese 1979, half bottle, Burgenland, 14% alcohol by volume, Jost von Hopler selection, imported by Accent Wine & Spirits, Houston,Texas, Burgenlandische Weinpramiierung gold medal seal, 1981.
The wine is of medium golden color, about the same expected for Yquem of like age. It is still rather fresh and I could detect no excessive oxidation. In ths respect, it is about at the same point that Yquem would be at the same age. It has more of the body of a Sauternes than a German TBA, likely because of the high alcohol content for a TBA. But here comparisons with Yquem stop. The bouquet and taste are not as intense as a top TBA or Sauternes. It reminds me of melon and pineapple. There also is honey. It is extremely sweet. For my taste it could use a bit more acid to balance the sweetness. Since I have tasted so few late harvest Pinot Blancs, it is difficult to place this wine in the pecking order of such wines. Then I must admit that I am highly prejudiced toward late harvest Rieslings. This wine came from a very unfortunate era in the Burgenland. I can detect nothing foreign to wine in the bouquet and taste, but some things do not show up in smell and taste. I even put some in a large brandy sniffer to see if I could detect anything foreign.
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