Winery Franz Hirtzberger Singerriedel Riesling Smaragd 2018

Weingut Franz Hirtzberger, Singerriedel Riesling Smaragd 2018

1.Introduction & context
The Riesling Smaragd from the Franz Hirtzberger winery in the Singerriedel vineyard is one of Austria's iconic white wines and enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide. The winery in Spitz an der Donau (Wachau) is run by the fifth generation and stands for outstanding Prädikat wines that epitomise terroir, precision and longevity. The steep Singerriedel vineyard, one of the most famous and steepest vineyards in the Wachau, with its weathered gneiss and granite soil rich in primary rock, provides the basis for Rieslings of mineral rigour, complex fruit and great finesse. The "Smaragd" classification is the highest quality level in the Wachau for the most powerful, concentrated and long-lasting wines.

2.Vintage 2018
2018 was a warm, sunny and early vintage in the Wachau. Vegetation started early and a long, very warm period led to rapid ripening. Isolated periods of heat and drought presented challenges. Winegrowers who, like the Hirtzberger family, focussed on perfect physiological ripeness and acid structure harvested healthy, aromatically ripe grapes with good acidity. The wines of this vintage are therefore often more accessible and fruit-driven than in cooler years, but still possess the typical Wachau tension due to the cool nights and the mineral subsoil.

3. Sensory description

• Colour: Intense, radiant golden yellow with greenish reflections.

• Nose: Extremely complex and multi-layered. At first, an intense, ripe fruit of peach, yellow apple, mirabelle plum and Williams pear unfolds. Notes of exotic fruits such as mango and lychee develop underneath, harmoniously interwoven with typical Singerriedel minerality (damp gneiss, pebbles), a delicate floral note (acacia, hawthorn) and a refined spiciness (ginger, white pepper). A subtle, smoky nuance rounds off the bouquet.

• Palate: Full-bodied, dense and yet light and elegant on the palate. The ripe fruitiness from the nose continues, carried by a lively, linear acidity that gives the wine a breathtaking freshness and length. The minerality is almost salty and dry on the finish. The alcohol content (typical for Smaragd at approx. 13.5-14% vol.) is perfectly integrated and supports the structure without being perceptible. The finish is extremely long-lasting, fruity and mineral and of great noblesse.

4.Rating & potential
The 2018 Singerriedel Smaragd from Hirtzbergeris a great, powerful yet delicate Riesling of the highest class. It combines the sun-kissed, opulent fruit of the 2018 vintage with the striking mineral rigour and acidity of the Singerriedel terroir. It is already extremely accessible and enjoyable to drink, but shows all the prerequisites for exceptional development.

• Ageing potential: This wine has the potential to agefor 15-25+ years.In its youth, the fruity opulence predominates; with time, mineral, complex-spicy and honeyed facets will come to the fore, while the acidity ensures constant freshness.

• Drinking window:Immediately (with one hour of decanting) a pleasure for friends of ripe, powerful Rieslings. The optimum window for full complexity begins around 2025 and will last for many years.

5. Serving recommendation & food pairing

• Temperature: 10-12°C

• Glass: Large, bulbous white wine glass to allow the flavours to unfold

• Decanting: Decanting for one hour is recommended to open up the complexity.

• Food pairing: Ideal with dishes of high sensory intensity and finesse. Classic: Fried or steamed fish (pike-perch, pike, salmon) in butter sauce, lobster, langoustine. Also perfect with strong poultry dishes (veal/pork fillet with creamy or creamy sauces), Asian cuisine (e.g. spicy Thai curries) or mature, creamy cheese (e.g. Comté, mountain cheese).

6.Conclusion
The Franz Hirtzberger Singerriedel Riesling Smaragd 2018 is a monumental wine that reflects the signature of its great terroir and the skill of the producer in an outstanding way. It already offers an overwhelming drinking experience, but its balance of fullness, acidity and minerality promises a long, fascinating development. A wine that impressively underpins the leading position of the Wachau and Austria in the world of Riesling.