2018 Rudi Pichler Riesling Achleithen Smaragd

An elegant, finely etched masterpiece built for the ages

A wine of Grand Cru stature — commanding, pure and endlessly complex.

97 Points – Falstaff | 96 Points – JamesSuckling.com

Wachau, Austria
RRP $140 | Single-Vineyard Riesling | Profound • Mineral • Age-Defying

“From one of the Wachau’s most revered vineyards, this old-vine Riesling marries intensity with precision — an elegant, finely etched masterpiece built for the ages.”

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Pale golden-straw with green edges — luminous and refined.
Aroma: Layers of lime zest, white peach, and apricot unfold over smoky flint, jasmine, and crushed rock.
Palate: Concentrated yet crystalline. Juicy citrus and stone-fruit depth glide across a mineral spine of extraordinary tension and clarity.
Finish: Long, saline and seamless — echoes of citrus peel, slate and spice linger for minutes.

Critical Acclaim

• 97 Points – Falstaff
  “Immensely elegant. Citrus, herbs and crystalline minerality in perfect harmony. Dense, fine-grained and endlessly long — a magnificent expression of Achleithen.”

• 96 Points – JamesSuckling.com
  “A dazzling Riesling showing lime, peach and crushed-stone aromas. Vibrant, pure and impeccably structured. Great now but built for decades.”

Vineyard & Winemaking

The Ried Achleithen Vineyard, overlooking Weissenkirchen, is one of the Wachau’s steepest and most historic sites.
Its ancient terraces of gneiss and mica-schist soils create Rieslings of immense mineral focus and longevity.

At Weingut Rudi Pichler, every detail is guided by purity and restraint:

• Hand-harvested fruit from mature vines on stone terraces

• Whole-bunch pressing for delicacy

• Spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts

• Lees aging in stainless steel and large neutral oak casks

The result is a Riesling that radiates transparency, precision and depth, translating Achleithen’s unique terroir into liquid form.

Region

Wachau, Austria – Smaragd Classification
“Smaragd” denotes the Wachau’s highest classification — wines of concentration, complexity and long-term cellaring potential.
From the famed Achleithen slopes, this Riesling shows the full grandeur of the region: minerality, structure, and ageless balance.

Food Pairings

• Grilled lobster or scallops with citrus butter

• Roast duck or quail with orange glaze

• Thai or Vietnamese dishes with lemongrass

• Sushi, sashimi and delicately spiced seafood

• Soft-rind or alpine cheeses

Why We Love It

The 2018 Rudi Pichler ‘Ried Achleithen’ Riesling Smaragd is a benchmark of depth and precision, showing the perfect union of ripe fruit and mineral tension.
Awarded 97 Falstaff and 96 Suckling, it’s a wine of Grand Cru stature — commanding, pure and endlessly complex.

Drink now for its vibrant energy or cellar for 20+ years as it evolves into something truly profound.

Majestic. Precise. Enduring.
The 2018 Rudi Pichler ‘Ried Achleithen’ Riesling Smaragd is a 97-point Wachau icon — pure terroir bottled with grace and power.