Sarah Jane Evans MW's top Austrian DAC wines

Eisenberg DAC (within Süudburgenland (498ha) ): Blaufräankisch

Only for red wines. Focused on the iron-rich soils of the Eisenberg hill.  While Mittelburgenland’s Blaufräankisch  is spicy, round, and fullbodied,  Eisenberg’s is more structured, more mineral, with more precise fruit.  Eisenberg DAC wines show a lively expression of the grape. The Reserve has  more depth and richness from oak ageing. Eisenberg DAC Classic from 2009 vintage, Eisenberg DAC Rreserve from 2008.

Wines to try:

Wachter-Wiesler Eisenberg DAC Reserve Pfarr-wWeingarten Blaufräankisch Reserve 2009

From one of Austria’s many vineyards formerly owned by the church. Generous aromas of smokey, peppery cigar boxes, underlaid by red fruit. The palate is  rich and powerful, a forthright structured serious style. Well-integrated oak.  Shows the different terroir of Eisenberg. 17pts/20
Price: N/A UK; wachter-wiesler.at
Drink: Now to 2016
Alc: 13%

For more on Austria’s wines, DAC and beyond, see the Austria supplement, published with the June 2012 issue (except with overseas newsstand copies).