Rudi Pichler Grüner Veltliner Ried Hochrain Smaragd

Grüner Veltliner 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
“The 2022 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Hochrain is sourced from vines on two different soils within the vineyard—slightly less weathered paragneiss, so vines are less able to penetrate, and deep loess. The palate homes in on savoriness on a fluid, smooth and absolutely streamlined body that brims with direction and a bright lemon streak. Also quite linear, this possesses gentle, salty length.” — Vinous, Feb 2024
“Peppery and open in this slightly warm sample (the ambient temperature on this sunny terrace is at least 27 °C, even with the shades pulled down, and the wines warm quickly). Broad, spicy and slightly sour on the finish. A big wine balanced by the fresh aftertaste but a bit of an awkward adolescent at the moment.” – 16 points — Jancis Robinson, Oct 2023
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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:
1,800
Exposure:
Southern
Year vineyard planted:
1970
Harvest time:
October-November
Bottles produced of this wine:
5,000
Average Vine Age:
40+ years
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Winemaking & Aging
Prefermentation Technique:
Cold soak
Time on its skins:
6-12 hours
Varietal composition:
100% Grüner Veltliner
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Malolactic fermentation:
no
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of aging container:
Stainless steel tanks
Size of aging container:
1000-5000L
Length of aging before bottling:
7 months
Length of bottle aging:
1 month
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.4
Acidity:
4.9 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Residual sugar:
1.8 g/L