The Pichler 2006 Riesling Smaragd Terrassen leads with cress, lime, and melon reminiscent of a Gruner Veltliner. Lime zest, pungent sage and cress, and faintly bitter peach pit notes lend this a rather austere intensity, but there is an underlying ripeness and juicy generosity that were missing from the corresponding Federspiel, and a clear, penetrating, invigorating finish. This should be worth watching from bottle for at least 4-5 years. Pichler’s 2007s differ very little in gross chemistry from his 2006s – including the high alcohol of several Gruner Veltliner – yet they have dramatically different personalities. Pichler compares them with his 1997s, and perhaps time in bottle will more clearly bear out that high praise. Rudi Pichler is a great believer in watchfully letting nature take its course and although some of his 2007s came in with pH levels many growers would consider alarmingly high he gave no thought to adjusting them, and the finished wines bear him out, displaying the vivacity and freshness typical of 2007.Importer: Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700

Intensely minerally and well-crafted, with elegant flavors of citrus, stone, apple and Bosc pear. The lush, concentrated finish of glazed apricot, honey and spice is impressively balanced and fresh. Drink now through 2018. 500 cases made.??–KM??Region: Austria / Nieder?sterreich / Wachau Select to Add