2022 Domäne Wachau Riesling ‘Kellerberg’ Smaragd

Kellerberg is Dürnstein’s steep landmark mountain, rising behind the Kellerschlössel (Domäne Wachau’s baroque cellar castle). The vines root deeply into the light-coloured “Gföhler Gneiss”, which consists mainly of feldspar and quartz and, in some areas, also covered by sandy loess soil in some parts of Kellerberg. The strong Pannonian climate influence on the Kellerberg yields full-bodied and complex, yet impressively mineral-driven wines.

The cultivation of the steep dry stone terraced vineyards and the poor soil, which can only be worked by hand, reduce the yield. Riesling grapes from the Kellerberg are harvested by hand in several picking passages with strict selection. After several hours of maceration on the skins and fermentation (partly spontaneously) in stainless steel tanks, the wine is aged in large wooden casks for a few months after initial time in stainless steel tanks. A late bottling after summer offers additional depth. – Roman Horvath MW, Domäne Wachau