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
Earthy and smoky, with beautiful range to its notes of lilac, star fruit, quince and peach, all coated in yeasty, salty savoriness. Vibrates with energy thanks to a smoldering layer of crushed flint, chive and thyme elements, plus salty acidity. Offers a long, stunning finish. — Wine Spectator, Jun 2025
Stunning grapefruit and white currant aromas, then with a little aeration a slew of blossoms. Incredibly concentrated, energetic and juicy on the super-racy, medium-bodied palate. Great mineral freshness in the very long, cool and precise finish. — James Suckling, Nov 2024
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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
Yield/acre:
1.2-2.16 tons
Exposure:
Southern / Southwestern
Harvest time:
November
Bottles produced of this wine:
2,500
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
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
14 days
Fermentation temperature:
64-72 °F
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:
5.8 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Residual sugar:
1.6 g/L