Rudi Pichler Riesling Ried Achleiten Smaragd

Riesling 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
“From the steep gneiss slope of Achleithen, this is a muscular wine, so bound up in itself that it’s hard to see the detail right now. It tastes like rocks translated into fruit, with hints of green grass and resinous herbs at the edges; it feels essential, stripped to the basics, presented without fanfare but with a sense of vibrancy and strength that makes it compelling. This needs time in the cellar to come into its own.”– (Best Rieslings)
— Wine & Spirits, Oct 2022
“Silky texture holds court in this floral Riesling. The pleasant mouthfeel is matched by orchard-blossom and honeysuckle notes gliding along the core of apricot and green apple. Mineral and spice accents add more panache as this smoothly extends on the long, meditative fin- ish. It is lovely off the bat, but will improve with age.”
— Wine Enthusiast, Jul 2022
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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
Bottles produced of this wine:
2,600
Average Vine Age:
40+ years
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Winemaking & Aging
Prefermentation Technique:
Cold soak
Time on its skins:
18 hours
Varietal composition:
100% Riesling
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
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.3
Acidity:
7.5 g/L
Alcohol:
13 %
Dry extract:
25.8 g/L
Residual sugar:
4.9 g/L