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
“There is a sense of grace in this linear white, along with some piercing acidity. The balance comes with the crunchy texture, as the palate unleashes apricot, citrus and mineral notes. The finish shows good length, with a mineral- laden aftertaste. It is best to wait a few more years.”
— Wine Enthusiast, Jul 2022
“A complex, intense white that combines peach, apple, elderflower and yuzu flavors with a racy, harmonious profile. The finish turns more austere yet remains long and mouthwatering, with a mineral underpinning.”
— Wine Spectator, May 2022
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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:
2,000
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
pH level:
3.3
Acidity:
7.2 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Dry extract:
27.1 g/L
Residual sugar:
1.6 g/L