2011 Emmerich Knoll Riesling Loibenberg Smaragd

Emmerich Knoll

Austria / Wachau / Emmerich Knoll

Loibenberg is one of the ”Grand Crus” of Austria. The ancient dry stone walls (some are dating back to the 14th century) reach up to 420m above sea level. The soil is dominated by weathered primary-rock, the so called ”Gföhler Gneiss”, with layers of loess and loam. Warm pannonian airstreams make Loibenberg the ”hotplate” of the Wachau. Stretching out over more than 20 hectares, Loibenberg is one of the Wachau’s biggest single vineyards and is famous for its diversified microclimate.

Joel B. Payne

Vinous Media

90 points

Complex bouquet exhibits ripe yellow peach, mango and lime, with a hint of flinty minerality. Complex and juicy on the palate, with an apricot flavor framed by almost lemony acidity. Herbal notes linger on the finish, which is highlighted by lime zest and wet slate.

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About Emmerich Knoll

"This winery has produced so many cult wines over the last decades that it would not be a problem to fill an entire book with their tasting notes." So goes the Falstaff Ultimate Wine Guide's entry on Knoll, pronounced with a K. The winery uses exclusively old oak foudres and implements a winemaking philosophy that places varietal site expression at the forefront. Emmerich Knoll senior is a thoughtful, quiet man; the opposite of Emmerich junior, cosmopolitan and modern in his approach. The Knolls have holdings in all the best sites, as exemplified by their success in the now infamous UK tasting where an aged Knoll Grüner beat a field of Grand Cru white Burgundies. The unmistakable labels bearing the image of Saint Urban, the patron saint of winegrowing, are a reminder that tradition is the watchword here. But what isn’t so obvious is that Emmerich Knoll’s wines are sheer joy to drink — now or far into the future.

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