Rudi Pichler, Riesling Ried Kirchweg Smaragd Wachau 2022, [Pre-Arrival]

98 points James Suckling
"Welcome to the dark side of Wachau dry riesling! Deep and delicately spicy nose that’s full of mystery. Incredible concentration and massive wet stone character on the very precise medium-bodied palate. Radical mineral energy and garden herb freshness at the enormously long and tightly-focused finish."

96 points Vinous
"The 2022 Riesling Kirchweg Smaragd is from a flat site close to the Danube where loess mixes with paragneiss deposited by erosion. Gentle, ripe and aromatic apricot is held in a citrus embrace on the nose. The palate is taut, citrus-focused and bright, with a zesty, cooling, ocean-like freshness that sweeps towards riper fruit. This so long and so gorgeous."

96 points Falstaff
"Light golden yellow, silver reflections. Delicate yellow peach, mango and orange zest, subtle nuances of meadow herbs, mineral touch. Firm, tight-knit, white tropical fruit, lively acidity, salty-calcareous structure, delicate spice on the finish, lime zest on the aftertaste, definite potential for ageing."

Vinous Reverie Notes
Rudi Pichler is among the elite growers of the Wachau producing wines of precision, power, and longevity. The estate 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. Kirchweg, or “church path,” gets its name from a former path to the nearby church of St. Michael. The vineyard faces southeast and rises gently towards the bottom of Hochrain. Rudi Pichler’s vines are planted near the foot of Hochrain where sedimentary soils provide excellent conditions for Riesling. Tasting Notes: Wachau Riesling is dry and often defined by high levels of dry extract (due to a lengthy ripening period) and a pleasing freshness (due to dramatic temperature swings between day and night). Sedimentary soils of sand and stone give Kirchweg Riesling a dense mineral texture and fine fruity flavors. Food Pairing: Riesling’s high acidity makes it one of the most versatile wines at the table. Riesling can be used to cut the fattiness of foods such as pork or sausages and can tame a certain amount of saltiness. Conversely, it can highlight foods such as fish or vegetables in the same way a squeeze of lemon or a vinaigrette can.