Rudi Pichler Riesling Ried Kirchweg Smaragd

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Riesling Ried Kirchweg 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.

Kirchweg, or “church path,” gets its name from a former path to the nearby church of St. Michael. The vineyard faces southeast and rises gently towards the bottom of Hochrain. Rudi Pichler’s vines are planted near the foot of Hochrain where sedimentary soils provide excellent conditions for Riesling.

“A quite discreet nose with a light and floral feel, as well as wet stones, white peaches and lime juice. The palate has a very smooth delivery of sleek, pastry-like texture with honeydew and nashi flavors.”
— James Suckling, Dec 2019

“From alluvial soils and a flat vineyard that Rudi Puchler considers as one of the rare grands crus in the plain, the 2018 Ried Kirchweg Riesling Smaragd has some volatile aromas on the nose like the Federspiel, but it's certainly more intense and complex, with concentrated apricot aromas. On the palate, this is a lush and elegant, well-balanced and charming Riesling that lacks a bit of concentration and complexity for my taste, but it is an elegant and charming wine for earlier consumption. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
— Wine Advocate, Mar 2020

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Vineyard name

Ried Kirchweg

Vineyard size

14 acres

Soil composition

Gneiss, Rocky, and Sand

Training method

Cane-pruned

Elevation:

726-1,188 feet

Vines/acre:

1.8

Exposure:

Southern / Southwestern

Average Vine Age:

35-45 years

Prefermentation Technique:

Cold soak

Time on its skins:

12 hours

Varietal composition:

100% Riesling

Fermentation container:

Stainless steel tanks

Malolactic fermentation:

Type of aging container:

Stainless steel tanks

Length of aging before bottling:

7 months

Length of bottle aging:

1 month

Acidity:

6.3 g/L

Alcohol:

13 %

Residual sugar:

1.3 g/L

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POS MATERIALS

Tech Sheet Bottle Shot Acclaim

Rudi Pichler Riesling Ried Kirchweg Smaragd

Wine Description

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Rudi Pichler Riesling Ried Kirchweg Smaragd

Wine Description

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