Rudi Pichler Gruner Veltliner Achleithen Smaragd 2016

Rudi Pichler Gruner Veltliner Achleithen Smaragd 2016

Austria - Wachau
100% Grüner Veltliner
75cl
13.5% ABV

92+ points, The Wine Advocate

A glorious contradiction, this great wine is immensely rich and powerful, yet focuses on the palate with laser precision. With this simmering tension between minerality, peppery spice, and dense ripe fruit, it is the very essence of Grüner Veltliner.

From extremely steep, southwesterly-exposed terraces with meagre soils of Gföhler gneiss, this mineral-driven and pure Grüner exemplifies the extraordinary quality of this site.

When it comes to Austrian wine, the one region which is widely considered to stand head and shoulders above the rest is the Wachau. Located in the beautiful lower parts of the country, along the banks of the mighty river Danube, the vineyards of Wachau have been producing high quality white and red wines for centuries, and were once considered amongst the finest in Europe. Indeed, during the heights of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Wachau wines were amongst the favorites of the crowned heads of Europe, and they remain popular today with those seeking the ultimate in elegance and refinement. The vast majority of wines made in the Wachau region are produced from the grapes of the Gruner Veltliner and Riesling varietals, two grapes which are perfectly suited to the climatic conditions and soil type of the region.