Weingut Leo Alzinger Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd 2024

Drink it now or cellar for up to 25 years. No need to decant. Located in Unterloiben in Austria's Wachau wine region, the Leo Alzinger winery was taken over in 2002 by Leo Alzinger Jr., after years of study and experience in Germany and New Zealand. The estate, which extends over approximately 11.5 hectares in the Danube Valley, has plots in the picturesque terraced vineyards of Loibenberg and Steinertal. Production involves the white grapes Grner Veltliner, Riesling, and Chardonnay. Grner Veltliner is reserved for the lower plots with loamy soils on loess, while Riesling reigns supreme on the higher plots with primary rock. The grapes come from vineyards located at about 200 meters above sea level. They are planted on shallow and infertile soils on the terraces south of the Loibenberg, the warmest in the Wachau, thanks to their excellent exposure. Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd is a lean and straightforward wine that is elegant and has excellent aging potential. On the nose, it reveals a lively and intense aromatic profile with notes of exotic fruit, broom, and stone fruit, followed by clear mineral hints of slate and flint. On the palate, it displays the vibrant acidity typical of Riesling, but is also velvety, juicy, and powerful, with an almost creamy texture and a long mineral finish. Its bone-dry character makes it ideal for oysters, sausages with sauerkraut, and with spicy Chinese, and Thai dishes.