2010 Riesling Ried Schutt Smaragd

Green leafy nose and very tart without quite enough of a fruity core. Just a little unintegrated. (JR)

Gloriously complex already even though there is still some primary citrus freshness. Stony. Very rich on the palate, amazing concentration that is lifted high by piercing acidity. Aftertaste is still mineral but also some orange zest. Lonnggg and wonderful. (JH)

Smoky and crushed stone overtones along with honeysuckle and lily scent the Knoll 2010 Riesling Smaragd Schutt, whose persistent inner-mouth floral perfume is matched by diverse, subtle mineral shadings suggesting stone, iodine, and peat. White peach and lime lend irresistible juiciness to a vibrant finish of almost kaleidoscopically complex flavor interplay. This at once superbly nuanced and outgoing Riesling ought to be a joy to follow over the next ten or a dozen years. “Warmth and wind at the end of October gave Smaragd the extra push, especially for Gruner Veltliner,” notes Emmerich Knoll Senior, and his estate did not begin picking that category until the first week in November. “Up until then, it pretty much counted as settled that we wouldn’t bottle a 2010 Vinothek in either Riesling or Gruner Veltliner, which in fact we did. But I can’t recall when the Smaragd ever had acid levels identical to the Federspiel as happened this year. Not that I’m unhappy about this,” he adds with a laugh. “There have been and will be quite a few vintages in which we would be happy for some of 2010’s acidity.” A portion of the Riesling Federspiel crop was de-acidified as must. Total production was only around half of what Knoll considers normal. None of the Smaragd – collectively, almost unbelievably, representing the heart of one of the finest Knoll collections in memory – was not due to have been bottled until late this summer. Importer: Circo Vino Besenville, IL; tel. (417) 732 4200