The first wine I will be sampling is the 2024 vintage Grüner Veltliner Federspiel DAC Ried Pichl Point.
Ried Pichl Point is a notable vineyard site in the Wachau wine region of Austria. The vineyard is located in Joching and covers an area of 17.55 hectares, sitting at an elevation ranging from 216 to 292 meters above sea level.
The vineyard has a southeastern exposure with an average slope of 20 percent, rising up to (a mind-boggling) 70 percent!
Ried Pichl Point is known for producing high-quality Grüner Veltliner wines, which are characteristic of the Wachau region.
The terroir of this also vineyard contributes to wines with distinctive characteristics. The soil composition includes strong loess deposits and typical primary rock soils.
The unique microclimate of the Wachau, influenced by the Danube River and surrounding forests, allows grapes to develop complex aromatics.
Wines from Ried Pichl Point are often described as juicy and dense, with rich in extract yet elegant. Grüner Veltliner from this vineyard can be found in various styles, including Federspiel and Smaragd, which are part of the Wachau's unique wine classification system.
These wines typically showcase the balanced structure, clear fruit, and captivating acidity, characteristic of warmer vineyard sites in the region, along with herbal spiciness and a deep bouquet.
This is a well-balanced and pleasant Grüner Veltliner, which is both expressive without being overpowering.
Medium gold in appearance, on the nose the wine displays inviting notes of fresh apricot, ripe pear, and white peach.
On the palate additional notes of grapefruit peel, lemon oil, and wet stone provide a complex and distinct experience.
This wine is perfect as a meal pairing, as it is bold enough to raise the flavor profile of a range of dishes, without being overpowering or distracting.
This would go ideally alongside baked trout with a garlic butter sauce, pan-roasted chicken with a béarnaise sauce, or a vegetarian/vegan bechamel lasagna or moussaka!
This is the most recent bottling of the 2024 vintage and I think the ideal time is to drink between 2026 and 2029.
Overall, this is a wonderful entrance to their winery and their wines. Grüner Veltliner is likely the most-associated wine with Austria and native to the country, and I find this to be an ideal wine for those looking for something notable, but not distracting or overpowering. This is a food wine. This is a quality everyday wine. This is a wine for a broad range of people, which is a great additional aspect.
I can’t wait to sample more wines from Weingut Familie Schmelz, and am already happy to see that they are producing wine which is characteristic of the region and style, which is simultaneously distinct and accessible.
Go here to learn more about the wine, reach out to the winery here to get into contact with them through email, and get into contact with me at my email at ziebarthsweinstube@gmail.com or follow my on Instagram to direct message or see more about the wine.
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