FX Pichler 2015 Loibner Oberhauser Smaragd Riesling, Wachau
Light emerald green, not to use wine school wine descriptors. Spritzy, it looks fresh. Floral on the nose with lively and ripe stone fruit like apricot and peach with pear/lime/citrus tones. There is certain bon-bon fruit ripeness in the glass. Tertiary tones underdeveloped-quite spicy-with a mere hint of kerosenic characters, wet stone, bread, cheese so compared to the earlier tasting notes of Wine Enthusiast it has developed and will continue to so so.
Rich, fennel, layered on the nose after 20 minutes in glass, this 2015 of a kind vintage showing a great Austrian rendition of Riesling fruit. The palate, however, gives a minerally tight, dry finish, affirming its newly awarded Smaragd designation for being the ripest dry wines. It is nonetheless a smoother/softer rielsing from F.X. Pichler which will however make a good dinner even juicier. Medium bodied, reflecting the 13% ABV. Tasting is done in Lucaris Robust Red.
This wine is good enough for the price, but we have seen much better Rieslings and GVs from FX Pichler with even mouth-filling presence, finish and complexity that leaves all of us speechless.
Consistent scores. The best is WE94.
FX Pichler 2015 Loibner Oberhauser Smaragd Riesling (Wachau) WE 94 POINTS
A flinty whiff of reduction shows what a young wine this is. Otherwise the nose is still tightly closed. The palate promises sleek concentration and is still taut and tightly coiled. There is a firm promise of citrus fruit, zest and freshness. The purity already sings. This will take time to blossom, so wait and you are in for a fabulous, zesty, fresh treat. Drink 2019–2035. ABV13%.
