Franz Hirtzberger Gruner Veltliner Rotes Tor Smaragd 2020 95FS/94SP
Wachau, Austria


This wine is sourced from the Rotes Tor (“red gate”) vineyard atop the Hirtzbergers’ home village of Spitz. Given its westerly location in Wachau, Rotes Tor is consequently a cooler site with typical soils of mica and schist. According to myth the Rote Tor (red gate) is part of the old town wall, which was saturated with blood, during the Swedish Wars in 1630. They grow Grüner Veltliner Smaragd grapes from the vineyards just below the gate. The soil-type consists of gneiss, mica and schist and brown soil. The Smaragd is harvested at several times in late October for only perfectly ripe grapes in order to showcase the unique terroir of this site.

95 pts Falstaff
Medium yellow-green, silver reflections. Delicate nutty-tobacco, pomaceous fruit nuances, hints of yellow peach and apricot, delicate candied orange zests, mineral hint. Complex, powerful, fine white fruit nuances, well-integrated acid structure, dark minerality, salty and adhering, safe ripening potential.

94pts Stu Piggot
A slew of wild herbs, tobacco leaf and sage, plus ripe grapefruit and mirabelle fruit, give this both character and appeal. Juicy and generous, but behind that there's a firm structure and plenty of mineral drive at the long finish.