Peppery, peppermint-like pungency, resinous piquancy, and a hint of apple pit bitterness inform a striking finish that retains abundant juicy, bright sweet lime, apple, and pineapple fruit. Pichler’s 2006 Riesling Smaragd Terrassen smells of lime and sage, offers a juicy and engaging meld of melon, citrus, and herbs on the palate, and finishes with an almost Veltliner-like combination of low-toned, bitter-sweet nuttiness and herbal profusion. Rudi Pichler picked and vinified with his usual sensitivity, thereby achieving a surprisingly broad stylistic range, even though the total length of harvest was unusually short. Flowering here just escaped the period of intense June heat that led to a reduced crop at most Wachau addresses.Importer: Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700

Racy and focused, with fresh flavors of apple, citrus, spice and marmalade. Finely balanced and structured, with a bright finish of Meyer lemon. Best from 2010 through 2015. 542 cases made.??–KM??Region: Austria / Nieder?sterreich / Wachau Select to Add

Despite its classification as a rich Smaragd, this is more about freshness. The ripe fruit is dominated by pears, white currants and lively acidity. This is an open wine, ripe and generous.——R.V.(5/1/2008)—— 89