Rudi Pichler is among the elite growers of the Wachau producing wines of precision, power, and longevity. Grüner Veltliner and Riesling make up 95% of the production with the remaining 5% shared between Weißburgunder and Roter Veltliner. Rudi Pichler belongs to the prestigious Vinea Wachau and vinifies under the strict parameters of their codex.
Yields are kept low between 30 and 35 hectoliters per hectare with botrytis carefully removed by hand. Grapes are crushed by foot and receive between three and 36 hours of maceration on the skins. Vinification is entirely in stainless-steel tanks and malolactic fermentation is avoided.
Hochrain, a name meaning "high place," is a southeast-facing terraced vineyard in Wösendorf sitting between 200 and 300 meters of elevation. The vineyard consists of an unusually high content of loess, a mineral-laden soil that produces wines that are especially broad and rich.
Review:
“A stunning wine for this grape that is also rather easy to understand. The Reine Claude plum and peppery nose is complex, but already charming. As exciting as the simultaneously creamy and succulent mid-palate is, what makes this medium- to full-bodied gruner veltliner really stand out is the extremely long, crushed rock finish.”
James Suckling 96 Points
17.3 acres (7 hectares) planted.
Color: clear and brilliant pale gold
Nose: powerful with citrus aromas
Mouth: fruity and citrus aromas
Classic vinification :
- Soft pressing of the grapes upon arrival (no skin contact maceration)
- Cold settling for 24 hours at low temperature (10°C - 50°F)
- Fermentation in Stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature (17°C - 62°F)
- Ageing on the fine lees for 5 months
- Racking in February
- Cold stabilization followed by a slight filtration
- Bottling.