We’ve waited long enough to spotlight a blockbuster Austrian Grüner Veltliner worthy of your cellar. And when it comes to Emmerich Knoll’s single-site “Smaragd” bottlings, it doesn’t get better than this. Sourced from the Ried Schütt vineyard, this is Grüner at its highest classification: full-bodied, vineyard-specific, and built to age. Think Grand Cru White Burgundy quality—at a fraction of the price.
Knoll’s whites, whether Grüner Veltliner or Riesling, are among the most sought-after in the world. His 15 hectares of steep, terraced vineyards surround the village of Dürnstein, a Wachau jewel with dramatic slopes and ancient soils. Schütt is a masterclass in cool-climate precision and quiet intensity: wet pebble minerality, saline lift, and subtle tropical fruit cut by crystalline acidity. It’s cerebral, elegant, and deeply expressive.
Built for the long haul, but already showing impressive layers after a short aeration. Floral honeysuckle, dried stone fruit, hints of pineapple, mango, and papaya dance on a bone-dry frame braced with vivid acidity.
The Schütt vineyard sits just past the famed Hohereck site, tucked at the foot of Loibenberg. With its flat shape midway down the slope and a gully above, it’s been collecting centuries of mineral-rich debris—hence its name, meaning "debris." This unique geologic formation contributes to the wine’s compact intensity and unmistakable mineral signature.
Under the stewardship of Emmerich Knoll III, the estate continues its legacy of minimal intervention and reverence for site—family-run for three generations.
Press Accolades:
96 Points, Vinous Media:
- "The 2022 Riesling Schütt Smaragd was picked on the deep gneiss deposits of this site cooled by cold air from the Mentalgraben gully. It has ripe pear juiciness on the nose, followed by a bright lemon aspect tinged with yeast. Luminous, bright citrus sets the tone on the palate. This is juicy and beautifully long, stretched toward sunlight and cool, bracing air, like a crisp winter day. Lemon freshness rings long and brings this into focus. Concentration, lemony briskness and purity shine on the long finish. (Bone-dry)- By Anne Krebiehl MW on November 2023
