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
“A rich white, with introductory elderflower, peach and apple aromas. This has terrific structure defining its fruit flavors, with underlying mineral and peppery notes on the long finish.”
— Wine Spectator, Dec 2021
“The 2019 Ried Achleithen Riesling Smaragd is deep and pure on the dense, complex, very elegant, crystalline and stony nose. Lush and round on the palate, this is an intense, very concentrated yet crystalline and salty Riesling with great terroir expression. The 2019 Achleithen already drinks stunningly well but can also be cellared for many years. The aftertaste is very intense and has the crescendo of a great terroir wine. A really great Wachau Riesling.”
— Wine Advocate, Dec 2021
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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:
3,300
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
Total SO2
107
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.4
Acidity:
6.1 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %
Total SO2
107
Residual sugar:
3.3 g/L