Winemaker Notes
Hinter der Mauer is a term that has a special meaning in the village of Loiben where the winemaker worked with Weingut Knoll. It refers to the space on a terraced vineyard between a row of vines and the wall to the next level. This row is often extra narrow and exceedingly difficult to work. There is a sense of being squished. But it often produces some of the best tasting fruit do the radiant heat from the stone wall next to it. I learned of this term one jovial evening with the Knoll family. We were all sitting around the table enjoying wines and they were teaching me some Austrian dialect terms that they were both proud of and entertained by. Hinter der Mauer is not only Austrian but distinctly a “Loiben Village” term. It would not even have the same meaning in other areas of the Wachau.
Blend: 50% Grüner Veltliner, 50% Dry Riesling
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This Grüner VeltlinerRiesling blend is a smartly priced wine for everyday enjoyment. Aromas of Asian pear, lime balm and crisp linen lead from the nose into a palate that’s chalky in texture and fresh in flavors of Meyer lemon, nectarine and riper melon.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 50% Reisling and 50% Grüner Veltliner, the 2023 Hinter der Mauer is lush, floral and sweetly fruited on the nose, displaying elderflower, honeysuckle and nectarine aromas. The palate is succulent and honeyed, finishing with a pleasant softness that still manages a bright, refreshing core. This is a lovely introduction to Tatomer and an incredible value.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
The largest and perhaps most varied of California’s wine-growing regions, the Central Coast produces a good majority of the state's wine. This vast California wine district stretches from San Francisco all the way to Santa Barbara along the coast, and reaches inland nearly all the way to the Central Valley.
Encompassing an extremely diverse array of climates, soil types and wine styles, it contains many smaller sub-AVAs, including San Francisco Bay, Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley.
While the Central Coast California wine region could probably support almost any major grape varietiy, it is famous for a few Central Coast reds and whites. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are among the major ones. The Central Coast is home to many of the state's small, artisanal wineries crafting unique, high-quality wines, as well as larger producers also making exceptional wines.