Wachau Porcelain Tour A sparkling carriage ride through the vineyards
An extraordinary, discreet carriage tour for 2 with fresh sandwiches & a bottle of sparkling wine
Structure
Drinking window
Best 5 to 15 years from vintage.
vintage5 yrs15 yrs17 yrs
Critic scores
No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.
What it pairs with
-
Zander (pike-perch) in butter sauce
Classic Wachau pairing: mineral Riesling with the Danube's signature freshwater fish. -
Fresh oysters
Slate mineral and firm acidity are a textbook oyster pairing. -
Crab cakes with lemon mayo
Citrus mineral notes complement the delicate crustacean in a fried format.
How to serve Schmelz Riesling Smaragd Höhereck
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a smaller all-purpose white glass; the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Zander (pike-perch) in butter sauce, Fresh oysters, Crab cakes with lemon mayo. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The Schmelz family in Joching works the Höhereck terraces above Dürnstein. The Höhereck Riesling Smaragd is the estate's signature single-Ried bottling at Smaragd level (minimum 12.5% alcohol under the 1983 Vinea Wachau Codex).
- 1988: Höhereck Riesling Smaragd first produced as a single-Ried cuvée by the Schmelz estate
Facts
- Producer
- Weingut Schmelz · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Riesling
- Classification
- Wachau DAC
- Oak
- Stainless steel; no oak
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- €35-55 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1988
Frequently asked about Schmelz Riesling Smaragd Höhereck
When should I drink Schmelz Riesling Smaragd Höhereck?
Drink 5-15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Schmelz Riesling Smaragd Höhereck?
Zander (pike-perch) in butter sauce is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Fresh oysters and Crab cakes with lemon mayo. Classic Wachau pairing: mineral Riesling with the Danube's signature freshwater fish.
What grapes are in Schmelz Riesling Smaragd Höhereck?
The blend is Riesling. The wine is classified as Wachau DAC.
Tags
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