The unique climatic situation of the highest altitude riesling vineyard in the Wachau (460 meters above sea level) in the warm 2017 vintage has resulted in astonishing aromatic complexity - from apples to pineapples via blackberries and peaches - and tremendous vitality that has produced a very long, leaping and bounding finish. Drink or hold. (Oct 2018)

Multidimensional, with one layer emerging after another. A wave of white peach and roasted pineapple flavors leads the way to the spice and chamomile notes, followed by an intense saltiness from minerality. All the elements are connected by a vivid structure that gives this focus. Seamless from start to finish, this imparts lots of pleasure now, but give it a few more years. Best from 2020 through 2033. 450 cases made. -AZ (Feb 28 2019)

From 20+-year-old vines with different genetics (mostly Geisenheim clones), the 2017 Riesling Smaragd Wachstum Bodenstein is from the highest vineyards of the domaine (Weissenkirchen Hinterseiber at 400+ meters above sea level) and offers a flinty, fresh and lemon-scented bouquet with crushed stone aromas. It is a rich, dense and powerful, piquant and firmly structured but elegant Riesling with a long, intense and juicy finish. Very concentrated and promising but far too young. Tasted in Weissenkirchen/Wachau, September 2018.