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
accordion plus icons
Acclaim
“The 2022 Riesling Achleiten Smaragd opens with a flinty, smoky aspect before its citrus focus kicks in. The palate is light and transparent, with a lovely fill of fruit held in a tight and stony frame. Gazelle-like, this is incredibly stone-like in nature. It embodies that stoniness in its sleekness—ethereal and lifted, but anchored by minerality. This is a picture of stony, profound exactitude.” — Vinous, Feb 2024
“This astonishing dry riesling is already wonderful to drink, but it is, in fact, still very youthful and just beginning to reveal its awesome treasures. The very cool nose of white peach and wild herbs pulls you inexorably into the tunnel of incredibly intense wet stone minerality on the medium-bodied palate. And once you are in that tunnel it feels like there’s no exit and no turning back. In spite of this uncompromising nature, this is also so refined and so silky at the finish, it’s a wonder.” — James Suckling, Dec 2023
View more acclaim Arrow Right
accordion plus icons
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:
2,000
Average Vine Age:
40+ years
accordion plus icons
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
accordion plus icons
Analytical Data
pH level:
3.3
Acidity:
6.2 g/L
Alcohol:
13 %
Residual sugar:
3.7 g/L