2009 Riesling Hochrain, Smaragd, Hirtzberger

2009 Riesling Hochrain, Smaragd, Hirtzberger

Product: 20098138057
 
2009 Riesling Hochrain, Smaragd, Hirtzberger

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Description

Weingut Hirtzberger is owned and managed by one of the best and most well known producers in the Wachau valley, Franz Hirtzberger. Franz and his family took control of this estate, which is one of the oldest in the region and is situated in Spitz, from his father in 1983. He has always been a perfectionist, a fact that is reflected in his top-quality wines, which have been awarded numerous awards.

While other wines may be vinified in part in large acacia barrels, this was made in 100 percent stainless steel, giving even more focus to this singular, high, terraced vineyard. The result is a ripe lime beauty, compact and mineral, built for the long haul. Drink now to 2019+.

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About this WINE

Weingut Franz Hirtzberger

Weingut Franz Hirtzberger

Weingut Hirtzberger is owned and managed by one of the best and most well-known producers in the Wachau valley, Franz Hirtzberger. Franz and his family took control of this estate, which is one of the oldest in the region and is situated in Spitz, from his father in 1983. He has always been a perfectionist, a fact which is reflected in his top-quality wines that have been awarded numerous awards.

The vineyards at Weingut Hirtzberger are planted with 45% Grüner Veltliner, 40% Riesling and small quantities of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay account for the balance. All the wines are fermented in stainless steel and aged in classic 30-50 hectolitre wooden barrels. Just behind the 13th century house is the `Singerriedel' vineyard site, located on steep slopes facing south-southeast, which produces one of Austria's most celebrated Rieslings. `Honivogl' is Hirtzberger's most important Grüner Veltliner vineyard and is grown on primary rock at the foot of `Singerriedel'.

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Wachau

Wachau

The sweeping, steep terraces of the Wachau, in Lower Austria, on the northern banks of the Danube, an hour’s drive west from Vienna, are home to Austria’s greatest dry white wines.  

Here Riesling and Grüner Veltliner excel in producing wines of startling purity and pristine intensity.  The climate changes slightly to produce the warmer, richer wines around Dürnstein and Loiben, to steely yet opulent wines around Spitz.  

Recommended Producers

Toni Bodenstein of Weingut Prager epitomises the former, whilst Franz and Irmgard Hirtzberger’s vineyards are the ultimate expression of the latter.  The region uses a unique system of classification to indicate the level of ripeness at harvest.  Steinfeder is the lightest, with an alcohol of around 10%, then Federspiel, which must not exceed 12% and finally Smaragd, named after an emerald green lizard found in the vineyards, which are assertive, late-harvested wines, but fermented to dryness.

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Riesling

Riesling

Riesling's twin peaks are its intense perfume and its piercing crisp acidity which it manages to retain even at high ripeness levels.

In Germany, Riesling constitutes around 20% of total plantings, yet it is responsible for all its greatest wines. It is planted widely on well-drained, south-facing slate-rich slopes, with the greatest wines coming from the best slopes in the best villages. It produces delicate, racy, nervy and stylish wines that cover a wide spectrum of flavours from steely and bone dry with beautifully scented fruits of apples,apricots, and sometimes peaches, through to the exotically sweet flavours of the great sweet wines.

It is also an important variety in Alsace where it produces slightly earthier, weightier and fuller wines than in Germany. The dry Rieslings can be austere and steely with hints of honey while the Vendages Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles are some of the greatest sweet wines in the world.

It is thanks to the New World that Riesling is enjoying a marked renaissance. In Australia the grape has developed a formidable reputation, delivering lime-sherbet fireworks amid the continental climate of Clare Valley an hour's drive north of Adelaide, while Barossa's Eden Valley is cooler still, producing restrained stony lime examples from the elevated granitic landscape; Tasmania is fast becoming their third Riesling mine, combining cool temperatures with high UV levels to deliver stunning prototypes.

New Zealand shares a similar climate, with Riesling and Pinot Gris neck to neck in their bid to be the next big thing after Sauvignon Blanc; perfectly suited is the South Island's Central Otago, with its granitic soils and continental climate, and the pebbly Brightwater area near Nelson. While Australia's Rieslings tend to be full-bodied & dry, the Kiwis are more inclined to be lighter bodied, more ethereal and sometimes off-dry; Alsace plays Mosel if you like.

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