Gruner Veltliner M. Smaragd 2018 Pichler

Classification	Cru Classe
Type	White
Brand	Pichler
Vintage	2018
Country	Austria
Region	Wachau
Grape	Gruner Veltliner
Volume	0,75
Condition	Perfect
Label	Perfect
Stock	0
Volume	1,5
Condition	Perfect
Label	Perfect
Drinkable	-2050
Stock	0

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (95)

From the latest harvest pass and the oldest vines, though no botrytis yet highly ripe and overripe grapes, the 2018 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd M is very concentrated and intense but clear and elegant on the slightly flinty nose. Sourced in the Kellerberg, Loibenberg Liebenberg and the terraced western part of the Kollmütz, this is a lush and rich, very intense yet elegant Veltliner with lots of power but also remarkable finesse and lingering salinity on the finish. Drinking this wine young is ridiculous and a waste of its talents and potential greatness. Although I don't know where the wine going from here I suppose it will develop very well over the next 10 years. The 2018, unlike the other Smaragd vines, was destemmed, macerated for up to 24 hours and 50% fermented in large (25 hectoliter) oak vats, and the lees were stirred once per month. Bottled in August 2019 and tasted at the domain in September.

BOW (9)

Falstaff (97)

Medium green-yellow, silver reflections. Smoky-spicy ripe yellow fruit nuances, delicate nutty touch, fine blossom honey in the background. Complex, full-bodied, ripe yellow fruit, creamy body, fine salty nuances in the finish, mineral and persistent, white fruit in the aftertaste, potential for many years.

James Suckling (96)

This has a wealth of ripe peaches and nectarines fruit with such mouthwatering ripeness and purity. The salty mineral core here is impressive and it anchors the palate with fleshy and tangy style and carries concentrated peach flavors long and dense.