Domäne Wachau, Grüner Veltliner Ried Kellerberg Smaragd 2019

Kellerberg is Dürnstein’s steep landmark mountain, rising up 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 quarz 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.

Highly aromatic notes of glowingly ripe, juicy pear also have an edge of bergamot. This aromatic sophistication carries over onto the palate where pithy, zesty citrus provides lots of concentration. The result is totally mouthwatering in a salty fashion that is utterly moreish and very refreshing. This is racy, taut and packed with flavour. The score is high at

97 Points, Wine Enthusiast:

“Only the most subtle notions of wet oakmoss, citrus peel and yeast escape on the shy nose. This is absolutely honed and taut, but time in the glass allows salty miso and crushed fennel aromas to shine through. A glint of ripe pear joins in but the utter, precise, stony freshness will take a while to unravel. This is indeed a wine to be treasured for decades.”