Pichler's 2003's were actually very good wines although I preferred the older vintages in every case for the extra structure which revealed their minerality much more. These are very serious wines although I have to admit that although I admire the great estates of the Wachau (of which this is undoubtably one), I don't buy the wines much myself. I find them a bit much sometimes - a bit serious and humourless, less engaging than the competition from other great areas. I think that's a very personal thing since the quality is very obviously in the bottle.
I wonder if the enthusiasm for Gruner Veltliner has got a bit out of
hand too. It is a very good minor grape and I do like it but I
thought on the whole it looked a bit simple compared to the
Rieslings. The notion (did it originate from Jancis?) that G-V
might rival white Burgundy seems a bit fanciful to me!