Weingut Emmerich Knoll, “Schütt” Riesling Smaragd

Knoll’s whites rank among the very best (and most sought-after) in the world. The estate’s 15 hectares of vineyards are scattered around the village of Dürnstein, considered to be one of the top areas in the Wachau. The rich and unique soils here contain loess (wind-blown silt) and gneiss (granite-like), which lend vivid minerality to the wine. The famous label depicts St. Urban, a patron saint of winegrowers, and this sumptuous dry Riesling hails from the Schütt vineyard, a south-facing site rich in gneiss. Fermented and aged mostly in steel, it explodes with white peach, mixed citrus, green herbs, and wet stone aromas, carrying over to a richly textured (but dry) palate.