2023 Emmerich Knoll ‘Kellerberg’ Smaragd Riesling

The crown jewel of the Wachau

A Riesling of breathtaking depth, crystalline purity, and monumental structure.

97 Points – JamesSuckling.com | 97 Points – Falstaff

Wachau, Austria
RRP $145 | Grand Cru Austrian Riesling | Profound • Precise • Powerful

“The crown jewel of the Wachau — a Riesling of breathtaking depth, crystalline purity, and monumental structure. A wine that defines both place and producer.”

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Pale gold with silver hues — luminous and immaculate.
Aroma: Exotic lime zest, white peach, and green apple intertwine with crushed slate, jasmine, and subtle honeyed spice. Deeply mineral yet supremely elegant.
Palate: Concentrated and layered. Juicy stone fruit and citrus flow through a fine lattice of acidity and flinty tension. The palate glows with energy and texture, perfectly balanced between fruit richness and mineral restraint.
Finish: Long, taut, and thrilling — lingering with saline minerality and delicate spice for over a minute.

Critical Acclaim

• 97 Points – JamesSuckling.com
  “A dazzling Kellerberg. Superb clarity and depth with lemon, apricot, and crushed-rock character. Vibrant, long, and impeccably precise.”

• 97 Points – Falstaff
  “Crystal-clear fruit meets riveting minerality. Elegant power and extraordinary length — a masterclass in balance and terroir.”

Vineyard & Winemaking

The Kellerberg Vineyard is Emmerich Knoll’s most revered site — a steep, south-facing amphitheatre of ancient gneiss and mica-schist terraces overlooking the Danube.
Its thin, rocky soils and extreme slopes produce Riesling of incredible focus, density, and minerality.

Winemaker Emmerich Knoll III adheres to a philosophy of quiet precision:

• Hand-harvested fruit from 40- to 60-year-old vines

• Whole-bunch pressing for delicacy and purity

• Fermented and aged in large neutral Stockinger oak casks

• Extended lees contact to build texture and complexity

The result is a Riesling that captures both the grandeur and discipline of Kellerberg — a true vinous monument.

Region

Wachau, Austria – Kellerberg, Dürnstein
One of the most iconic vineyard slopes in Europe.
The Smaragd classification represents the apex of ripeness and intensity within the Wachau system — wines of immense concentration, texture, and longevity.

Food Pairings

• Butter-poached lobster with citrus and herbs

• Roast duck with ginger and orange glaze

• Seared scallops with beurre blanc

• Thai-inspired lemongrass and lime dishes

• Soft-rind or washed-rind cheeses such as Époisses or Delice de Bourgogne

Why We Love It

The 2023 Emmerich Knoll ‘Kellerberg’ Smaragd Riesling is a benchmark of European white-winemaking excellence — intense yet ethereal, mineral yet sumptuous.
It showcases the purity of Wachau fruit, the tension of its soils, and the legacy of one of Austria’s greatest estates.

With dual 97-point acclaim from James Suckling and Falstaff, this is a collector’s Riesling of the highest order — built to age gracefully for decades yet utterly magnetic in its youth.

Majestic. Precise. Enduring.
The 2023 Emmerich Knoll ‘Kellerberg’ Smaragd Riesling is a 97-point icon — a crystalline, world-class expression of terroir and time.