F.X. Pichler Riesling Ried Kellerberg 2020

Drink it now or cellar for up to 30 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour.

Founded in 1898 in Oberloiben in the Wachau wine region of Austria, the Pichler Estate, led by Franz Xaver’s son Lucas since 2009, has around 20 hectares of mostly terraced, hand-cultivated vineyards.

The Riesling grapes come from Kellerberg, a renowned quality vineyard located at the eastern end of the Loibner basin. Here the vines are distributed over steep slopes (maximum gradient 70%) and rocky terraces and are rooted in Gföhler gneiss soils, with a metamorphic bedrock. The south-to-south-east exposure and the unique microclimate of this site favor a slow ripening and the development of an extraordinary aromatic character. The vineyard owes its name to the nearby baroque Kellerschlössl castle, built between 1714 and 1719.

In the glass, the wine reveals a straw color with silver and greenish reflections. Its aromatic profile is intense and complex with a strong tropical character and notes of mango, pineapple, and passion fruit, followed by peach and mirabelle plum, some floral and herbaceous hints, and citrus peel. On the palate, it is elegant and full-bodied with a brisk acidity. It has a strong mineral vein which lingers into the long and refreshing finish. It is excellent with seafood, pork, and gently spicy Thai dishes.