Rudi Pichler Riesling Ried Hochrain Smaragd

Riesling Ried Hochrain 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.

Hochrain, a name meaning "high place," is a southeast-facing terraced vineyard in Wösendorf sitting between 200 and 300 meters of elevation. The vineyard consists of an unusually high content of loess, a mineral-laden soil that produces wines that are especially broad and rich.

Rudi Pichler Winery
Rudi Pichler Vineyards
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Acclaim
“Shows an elegant profile, with crystalline purity to the vibrant flavors of Bosc pear, peach, grapefruit and mineral. Structurally impressive, displaying impeccable balance, this hums through to the finish, inviting you to reach for more. Should reward aging.”
— Wine Spectator, Oct 2020
“The ‘Ried Hochrain Smaragd’ Riesling is a spectacular effort by Rudi Pichler. The aromatic range is quite dramatic to brandy soaked peach to wet stone and shades of apricot with petrol accents that all mingle together in the glass. The freshness and verve of the wine is quite remarkable, as this seamless wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Even better is the near minute long finish. One thing is certain — this beautiful Riesling will be exceedingly long-lived.”
— Washington Wine Blog, Jun 2020
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Ried Hochrain
Vineyard size
53 acres
Soil composition
Gneiss, Rocky, and Loess
Training method
Cane-pruned
Elevation:
726-1,188 feet
Vines/acre:
1.8
Exposure:
Southern / Southwestern
Average Vine Age:
22-40 years
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Winemaking & Aging
Prefermentation Technique:
Cold soak
Time on its skins:
12 hours
Varietal composition:
100% Riesling
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Malolactic fermentation:
no
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of aging container:
Stainless steel tanks
Size of aging container:
1000-5000 L
Length of aging before bottling:
7 months
Length of bottle aging:
1 month
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Analytical Data
Acidity:
5.4 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Residual sugar:
2.3 g/L