2011 Moric Burgenland Blaufrankisch 2015 Villa Wolf Pinot Noir

13% ALC. $40.90, DRINK BY 2019 11.5% ALC. $24, DRINK BY 2019

Succulent and squishy pinot noir with a firm freshness and smooth cherry fruit, but it’s also pepped up with a good spiciness and smokiness. This is a pleasant and juicy mouthful, and even though it’s had 12 months in barrel, it’s fantastic value and a great introduction into how seductive German pinot noirs can be. Moric is one of Austria’s great red wine producers of the modern era and has done delicious things with Burgenland’s original blaufrankisch vineyards, some of which are more than a century old. The success of this wine lies in its red berry fruit and sourcherry finish, although it also has a firm, chalky minerality to finish.