Hopler Gruner Veltliner 2008

One of my new favorite stores is All The Best Spirits in Riverside, CT which has recently re-opened following a fire that wiped out the store. This is also the store where I found the Ondarre Rioja (posted last night). Although they have the popular wines that most know, they have a nice selection of smaller boutique wineries that wine drinkers should become familiar with. While there, I ran across a bottle of the Hopler Gruner Veltliner. The GVs being produced right now in Austria are some wonderful, easy drinking white wines that are great for pairing with foods. This Hopler GV was an entry level wine with a light greenish yellow hue that had subtle aromas of apples and pears along with some soft lemon and lime and a hint of stoniness from the terroir. On the palate, the citrus fruits again were lighter than I had expected. The crispness that I have had in other GVs was also missing. The Hopler GV is very light in structure and acidity, along with a mere 11% alcohol content. Additionally, the finish was very short. A Chardonnay drinker might like this but a Sauvignon Blanc drinker will probably not like it. Overall, we weren't excited about this wine but it is an easy drinking white if you are looking for something different. However, the $17 price tag is too high for this wine. Pair this with a milder cheese or a mild white fish.