Domane Wachau Riesling Smaragd Achleiten 2021

Cellar for up to 15 years. Serve chilled.

Despite being one of Austria’s largest wineries, Domaine Wachau is a quality-focused producer that produces some of the country’s finest white wines. It functions as a cooperative with 440 hectares of vineyards in the Wachau including many legendary crus like Achleiten, Kollmitz, Loibenberg and Tausend-Eimer-Berg. Most of their vineyards are planted on steep terraces above the Danube river and bordered by ancient dry stone walls.

The challenging growing conditions here mean that yields tend to be small and white wine varieties like Gruner Veltliner and Riesling are best suited to the relatively cool climate. This stunning Riesling begins life in the Achleiten vineyard in the village of Weissenkirchen. Here the silicate-rich shallow soils help to create intense yet graceful Riesling with plenty of minerality and refreshing acidity.

Once in the winery the fruit is macerated on the skins briefly, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and left to mature on the lees in large wooden casks. This helps to create a richly aromatic wine balanced with plenty of freshness and a pure, clean finish. Hints of ripe peach, apricot and citrus dominate on the nose, while the palate is well-rounded with stone fruit and lingering hints of graphite and bitter grapefruit.