World Wine 2004 Schmelz Gelber Muskateller

Wachau, Austria Schmelz Gelber Muskateller is a beautiful dry expression of the Yellow Muscat grape native to Austria. Schmelz is a family-run winery in its fifth generation, a founding member of Vinea Wachau. European press already has this estate firmly entrenched in the top half-dozen growers in the entire Wachau, one of only six 3-star Falstaff producers in the region. Falstaff "Winery of the Year 2005." For those who may be relatively unfamiliar with the wines of Austria, here are some explanations: Schmelz is the winery; Gelber Muskateller is the grape; Wachau is the appellation--the most prestigious wine region in Austria, with steeply-sloped vineyards; Federspiel is the level of ripeness (equivalent to Spatlese in German wines); Trocken means dry (less than 0.5% RS); and Qualitaetswine means it is a "quality wine" with a ripeness designation from a recognized appellation. Schmelz Gelber Muskateller is yellow-gold in color with a perfumed nose of apricots, grapes, almond, minerals and floral notes.