Rudi Pichler Riesling Ried Hochrain Smaragd

Riesling Ried Hochrain Smaragd bottle image

Wine Description

The Pichler family has been making wine in the village of Wösendorf since at least the late 19th century. The original cellar building, more of a small stall than a winery, was purchased in 1884 and their first vineyards were planted in the town of Wosendorf in 1904. The modern winery was built in 2004 near Rudi´s private home. After some initial wanderlust and the pursuit of various other interests – academic and commercial – Rudolf Pichler IV returned to the family winery with a seed of an idea. He had no formal training other than his memories of his grandfather and his instincts for great wine.

Documented as early as 1050, the site in Wösendorf, at the foot of the Hochrain, is influenced by the sediment and stone soils of its highly situated vineyards, producing wines with a dense mineral texture and fine fruity flavors. Smaragd is the Wachau designation for dry late harvest wines, above 12.5% alcohol through natural fermentation.  The best smaragd wines can age well for decades. 

Rudi Pichler Winery
Rudi Pichler Vineyards
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Acclaim
“Lovely elegant, deep, and relaxed on the flinty/limy nose, the pure, bright and herbal-flavored 2013 Riesling Smaragd Wösendorfer Hochrain has particular flavors of crushed gneiss and fresh pineapples, exhibiting its great terroir already on the nose. The purity and stringently salty, mineral complexity is extended on the palate where this thrilling, vital, tension-filled yet also elegant Riesling promises a great 20 years ahead.”
— Wine Advocate, Apr 2015
“Pure aromas of quince and apricot, plus a whiff of nutmeg. Intense and deep, with flavors of peach, lime zest and quinine, the 2013 Hochrain is a highwire act combining enormous density with pure minerality. This vibrant, succulent Riesling finishes with a salty twist.”
— Vinous, Sep 2015
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Hochrain
Soil composition
Gneiss, Rocky, and Sand
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
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Riesling
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
14 days
Fermentation temperature:
64-72 °F
Maceration technique:
Cold Soak Maceration
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:
8.7 g/L
Alcohol:
13 %
Residual sugar:
3 g/L