Tegernseerhof Riesling Steinertal Smaragd 2012

Type: White
Country: Austria
Region: Wachau
Grape Variety: 100% Riesling

Climate: Continental climate with some influences from the Danube River
Terroir: Vineyard grows on steep terraces of solid primary rock, ideally situated to be caressed by the wind and warmed by the sun.
Winemaking: After harvesting the berries are sorted and pressed. This is followed by the procedure of alcoholic fermentation with previous maceration, which lasts a day. After spontaneous fermentation, the wine is aged on its lees in stainless steel tanks for 4 months and then bottled.

Color: Light yellow-green, silver highlights
Nose: Mineral white stone fruit nuances, some mango, a hint of lime zest, some honeysuckle blossom
Palate: Complex, juicy, fine tropical fruit, fresh structure, finesse and with a pleasant ripeness on the finish, an elegant food wine, refreshing style, good ageing potential

About the Winery:
Martin Mittelbach is a Wachau insider with an outsider’s perspective. He is the fifth generation of Mittelbachs to run the historical Tegernseerhof, an estate that goes further back than 1000 years. Despite the estate’s historical merit, you couldn’t find a much more progressive winemaker with his own set of standards and way of thinking in this region. Martin took over the estate at a very young age and immediately changed the way things were done. As you could imagine, there was some friction with his father who preferred to make wines more on the sweeter side. Today, you would be hard-pressed to find a more dry and straight style in the Wachau. The grapes are harvested and sorted rigorously to take out any botrytis grapes and then vinified and raised in stainless steel. They are harvested with no botrytis to keep the wines focused and tense. His wines are like his personality: intense, focused and highly intellectual. These laser beams are as far away from the often baroque style that can be found in this region. At every level, his wines excel and can stand tall next to any of the greatest producers in Austria.