Prager Wachstum Bodenstein Riesling

Riesling Wachstum Bodenstein Smaragd bottle image

Wine Description

When Franz Prager co-founded the Vinea Wachau in 1983, he had already established a reputation as one of Austria’s best winemakers. The marriage of Franz’s daughter, Ilse, to Dr. Toni Bodenstein in the 1990s was the catalyst for sweeping renaissance at the winery. Bodenstein, a biologist, geologist and historian, spent years studying the geology of the region and focused much of his attention on preserving genetic diversity. His “Arche Noah” project, a planting of old Grüner Veltliner and Riesling clones is the result of his work. Bodenstein’s scholarly approach, passion for biodiversity, and brilliant winemaking has elevated Prager to the highest echelon of Austrian wine producers.Hinter der Burg is an important “calling card” wine for the winery and showcases Prager’s stylistic signature of aromatic complexity coupled with power and nervosity. High-density planting and long hang times ensure ripeness and power while practices such as allowing leaves to shade the fruit allow for vibrant aromatics of grasses, herbs and wildflowers.tle Weissenkirchen.

Prager Vineyards
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Acclaim
“The nose of Bodenstein’s 2012 Riesling Smaragd Wachstum Toni Bodenstein is utterly fascinating,…musk, peat, as well as white peach and diverse citrus. The nearest analogy I can think of is to certain Jurancon. Salty and meaty savor on a polished palate runs all the way through a mouthwatering and mysteriously nuanced finish. This genetically-diverse planting in the upper reaches above Weissenkirchen – about which I have written more in several reports – is singular in its location, and here is an instantiation that displays correspondingly unique and unusual scents and flavors. There have been many instances amid these vines previous 15 dedicated bottlings when you had to shake your head in disbelief that not only father-in-law Franz Prager but a great many other experienced vintners told Toni Bodenstein that Riesling would be lucky to ripen in this nose-bleed site more than one year in ten.”
— David Schildknecht, Apr 2014
“Shows impressive structure to the concentrated flavors of crunchy apple, dried ginger and white peach, accented by light, smoky notes. The long, powerful finish of dried mint and savory herb has a flinty character.”
— Wine Spectator, Apr 2014
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The Wachtum Bodenstein vineyard
Vineyard size
2 acres
Soil composition
Gneiss, Mica Schist, and Silty-Loam
Elevation:
1,380-1,520 feet
Vines/acre:
2,720
Yield/acre:
1.6 tons
Exposure:
Southern
Year vineyard planted:
1990
Harvest time:
November
First vintage of this wine:
1997
Bottles produced of this wine:
3,200
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Riesling
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
35 days
Fermentation temperature:
64 °F
Type of aging container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of aging before bottling:
7 months
Length of bottle aging:
2 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.3
Acidity:
6.4 g/L
Alcohol:
13 %
Dry extract:
23.8 g/L
Residual sugar:
1.4 g/L