Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Achleiten Late Release

This Grüner Veltliner Smaragd from the Ried Achleiten shows how much power and tension is in the grape variety: juicy, concentrated, and with dark, smoky minerality.

Domäne Wachau bottles it from the Ried Achleiten, one of the most famous vineyards in the Wachau, which stands for wines with great independence. In the Wachau, Smaragd denotes the ripest and most substantial style category of the Vinea Wachau. The addition of Late Release points to a later release than usual.

On the nose, floral notes meet vineyard peach, fresh kitchen herbs, and white pepper. On the palate, the wine appears juicy and dense in extract; fine exotic fruit is in beautiful balance with the fresh acidity. The finish is long, mineral, and spicy.

At the table, it pairs well with classics of Austrian cuisine such as Tafelspitz with apple-horseradish and chive sauce or calf's lights. It also goes well with intense dishes of Asian cuisine, for example with spicy Som Tam made from papaya. Serve it at 10–12 °C.