| Producer | Weingut Hans Johann Schwarz |
| Country | Austria |
| Varietal | Zweigelt |
| Vintage | 2006 |
| Sku | 1012772 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Robert Parker 90 Points The 2006 Schwarz Rot displays formidable concentration of bitter black cherry and blackberry fruit, with saline and resinous notes informing its rolling block of a finish. The seeds of interesting evolution appear to be here in the form of ample energy and a brighter cast than exhibited by some other vintages. That the wine will hold for at least a half dozen or more years, is certain.
The winery (with its minimalist labels) known simply as Schwarz began as a collaboration between Andlau butcher and wine lover with his friends Manfred Krankl (of Sine Qua Non fame) and Alois Kracher. His red – from Zweigelt, although this grape is not credited on the label – consistently swings for the bleachers with long maceration (both cold and fermentative) and lavish new French oak. Schwarz opines (as did Kracher) the real test of his wines’ meddle will come after more than a decade in bottle. The 2004 is impressive today, and if the 2003 now appears to be drying, so were the grapes at harvest in that extraordinarily hot year. The earliest vintages – 1999 through 2001 – while fascinating today, struck me from the beginning as a bit rough, warm, sweaty, and woody from the beginning, but it is clear that progress has been made.
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