Rudi Pichler Grüner Veltliner Ried Achleiten Smaragd

Grüner Veltliner Ried Achleithen Smaragd bottle image

Wine Description

Rudi Pichler is among the elite growers of the Wachau producing wines of precision, power, and longevity. Grüner Veltliner and Riesling make up 95% of the production with the remaining 5% shared between Weißburgunder and Roter Veltliner. Rudi Pichler belongs to the prestigious Vinea Wachau and vinifies under the strict parameters of their codex.

Yields are kept low between 30 and 35 hectoliters per hectare with botrytis carefully removed by hand.  Grapes are crushed by foot and receive between three and 36 hours of maceration on the skins. Vinification is entirely in stainless-steel tanks and malolactic fermentation is avoided.

Achleithen, from “ach” meaning water path and “leiten” referring to the slope, is a terraced vineyard in Weißenkirchen sitting between 200 and 400 meters of elevation. Rudi Pichler’s parcel lies in the small section of Achleithen that faces west where weathered Gföler Gneiss dominates the upper terraces. Achleithen is one of the most famous vineyards in the Wachau and gives wines that are distinctly mineral.

Rudi Pichler Winery
Rudi Pichler Vineyards
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Acclaim
“The 2019 Ried Achleithen Grüner Veltliner Smaragd comes from the western part of the cru and very low-yielding vines that are up to 60 to 80 years old, on very mineral soils with gneiss and amphibolite. It offers a very elegant, refined, deep, complex and flinty bouquet with bright herbal and fruity notes, even redcurrant, but predominantly crushed stones. This Veltliner is clearly dominated by the unique terroir here, at least on the nose, while on the palate, the Veltliner performs in fine harmony with the Achleithen terroir. Full-bodied, elegant and juicy on the palate, this is an intense, lush and round, even rich but also finessed and persistently salty Achleithen that reveals crystalline acidity and lingering salinity and finesse. Very stimulating. A great 2019.”
— Wine Advocate, Dec 2021
“Complex and silky, showing elderflower peach, grapefruit, hawthorn and legume aromas and flavors, with a peppery finish. Harmonious, inviting and graceful from beginning to end.”
— Wine Spectator, Aug 2021
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Ried Achleithen
Vineyard size
55 acres
Soil composition
Gneiss and Rocky
Training method
Cane-pruned
Elevation:
726-1,188 feet
Vines/acre:
1,800
Exposure:
Southwestern
Year vineyard planted:
1970
Bottles produced of this wine:
4,400
Average Vine Age:
50+ years
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Winemaking & Aging
Prefermentation Technique:
Cold soak
Time on its skins:
18 hours
Varietal composition:
100% Grüner Veltliner
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Malolactic fermentation:
no
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of aging container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of aging before bottling:
7 months
Length of bottle aging:
1 month
Total SO2
110
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.5
Acidity:
4.7 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %
Total SO2
110
Residual sugar:
2.5 g/L