2017 Rudi Pichler Riesling Achleithen Smaragd
Wachau, Austria
Outstanding, intense dry Riesling with incredible power and structure.
$150.00
Great brilliance and minerality, packed into a remarkably sleek package for this grape and the opulent vintage. Then comes the finish that just doesn't want to let go!
James Suckling - 98 Points
About The Wine
The very top of the Wachau Riesling Tree - a great vineyard (Achleithen), from a great producer, made at the greatest designated level (Smaragd).
Achleithen is a designated single vineyard (or Ried, which you may see on the label) - a very steep, south-west facing site of terraced vines on pure rock soils, overlooking the Danube.
Rieslings from Wachau are generally dry but with high levels of extract, so this not an ethereal delicate style but a rich powerhouse full of stonefruit, honey, slate and smoke. Years in the cellar ahead.
Rudi Pichler is a member of the voluntary 'Vinea Wachau' (akin to the German VDP arrangement) and adheres to the strict rules of their system. 'Smaragd' is the top designation for wines with the highest ripeness, the fermented dry - it is named after the emerald lizards that frequent the vineyards.
About Rudi Pichler
The Pichler family have been based in Wachau since 1731, and bought their original cellar in 1884, finally planting their first vines twenty years after that. Today, Rudolf Pichler IV, known as Rudi, cultivates fifteen hectares of vineyard including some of the acknowledged ‘grands crus’ of the Wachau.
The vineyards are spread across the region, with Wösendorf and Joching in the heart of the Wachau Valley where south-facing terraces look down at the Danube River. Rudi produces crystal-clear expressions of Gruner Veltliner, Riesling, and Pinot Blanc from these sites.
“I’m a wine caretaker not a winemaker,” is Rudi’s mantra, placing the intensity of work in the vineyards at the foundation of his philosophy.
The wines Rudi produces are pure, dense, and taut with energy, and thus speak clearly of the terroir in which they emerge from.
Wachau, Austria
From The Producer
From an extremely steep hillside with southwesterly-exposed terraces and meagre soils of Gföhler gneiss, this is a mineral-driven and pure Riesling, one that epitomises authenticity & identity.
Blend : Riesling (100%)
Closure : Cork
Drink Until : 2032
Bottle Size : 750ml
Wachau, Austria
Critic Reviews
"Very complex nose with everything from exotic fruit and pomelo to white pepper, fresh herbs and spring flowers. Great brilliance and minerality, packed into a remarkably sleek package for this grape and the opulent vintage. Then comes the finish that just doesn't want to let go!" - James Suckling (JamesSuckling.com)
Delivery is Free for any order of $150 or more. If your order is under $150 a delivery charge will be calculated at checkout based on your postcode. There is no minimum order quantity and you can order in any combination you like. Make your perfect mixed pack
Estimated Delivery Times for each postcode can be viewed here.
Authority to Leave and other delivery instructions can be left in the ‘SPECIAL REQUESTS’ box during checkout. The 'SPECIAL REQUESTS' box can be found on the here page before the final checkout page.
Warehouse Pickupis available from our Sydney warehouse in Ultimo, 2007. Just select Local Pickup at checkout. We are open 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Our Heat Policy can be viewed here. If you would like us to hold dispatch of your order for milder weather please leave instructions to do so in the 'SPECIAL REQUESTS' box found on the cart page before the final checkout. We are happy to hold it for as long as you like. All orders are fully insured so you can buy with full confidence that these tasty beverages will get to you in tip-top shape.
Returns are free for 100 days after purchase. You can view the conditions of our return policy here
For any other shipping related inquiries, please see our helpful FAQ, email us at hello@differentdrop.com or call us on 02 8376 8775..
Do I have to order in dozens? No, please mix it up! You can order wines in any quantity and variation you like. You can order 1 bottle or 50. We challenge you to make the ultimate mixed pack of wine!
Are there volume discounts? No, our pricing is designed to be the best in market already - no marking up and then discounting down! For very large orders (weddings, etc) we are open to negotiating though. Just give us a call.
Do we price match? Yes, within reason. Everyday low & consistent pricing is something we strongly believe in. We want our customers to feel confident they are always getting the best price. If you see a price lower somewhere else let us know and we'll consider matching it. We'll even retrospectively issue you store credit if you have already purchased from us but you see a lower price somewhere later on. Our price match policy can be seen here.
Can coupons and discounts be stacked? No, only one discount or coupon can be applied to an order at once.
I am trying to add more of a wine to my cart but it won’t let me? This means we are running low on stock of that wine. So for example, if the website will only allow you to add 3 bottles and no more, then that is all we have of that particular wine. The good news is we may be able to order more for you. Just contact us on 02 8376 8775 or hello@differentdrop.com and we'll organise the additional quantity for you.
Does Different Drop have a physical store? No. Just an a warehouse/office. We occasionally do events however, so sign up to our newsletter or follow us on instagram to stay in the loop.
Can I special order a wine you do not sell? If it’s doable, then we’ll make it happen. Just contact us directly via phone, chat or email and we’ll find out for you right away. Please note that in most cases special orders such as these will need to be in full case lots (6 or 12 bottles).
More FaQs: here
Sign up for the latest news & special offers
No spam, just the good stuff!