Located in Spitz on the banks of the Danube river, Franz Hirtzberger is a genius of Gruner Veltliner. Meticulous attention detail and late harvesting, often into December, give perfectly ripe fruit that they turn into stunning wines of baroque opulence.
Named for a particularly gruesome bit of local history, the Rotes Tor is a gate that was supposedly stained red with blood during a battle with the Swedish army during the Thirty Years War.
A Smaragd wine in the Wachau refers to the highest level of ripeness, the top designation for the region. This example displays that to full effect, with massive intensity of aroma and body - notes of mango, nectarine, white pepper, miso and star anise come in wave after wave of flavour. Despite this abundance of richness it manages to feel fresh and retains a balance only possible in truly great vineyards