Description

The Weingut Emmerich Knoll is a cornerstone of Austrian winemaking, located in the village of Unterloiben in the Wachau Valley. While the Knoll family has been tending vines for generations, the estate rose to international prominence under the leadership of Emmerich Knoll III, who helped establish the Wachau as a world-class wine region. Today, the winery is easily recognized by its ornate, baroque label featuring Saint Urban, the patron saint of winegrowers—a design that has remained unchanged since the 1960s. The estate focuses on traditional methods, utilizing large oak casks (foudre) rather than stainless steel to allow the wines to breathe, and they are founding members of the Vinea Wachau, the association that created the Smaragd quality designation.

The 2019 Ried Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd is a powerhouse of a wine, reflecting the warmth of one of the Wachau’s most famous terraced vineyards. On the nose, it is intensely aromatic, offering a complex bouquet of ripe apricot, yellow peach, and crushed stones, with subtle floral hints of elderflower and lime zest. The palate is dense and concentrated, showing a signature "Smaragd" weight that is perfectly balanced by a streak of vibrant, crystalline acidity. This tension between the rich, tropical fruit flavors and the deep, salty minerality creates a long, precise finish that suggests this wine will evolve beautifully for two decades or more.