The Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Hochrain Smaragd 2016 is a prestigious dry Riesling from Austria’s Wachau Valley, crafted from the Hochrain vineyard by the renowned Hirtzberger estate, a benchmark for Austrian winemaking. This 2016 vintage displays a pale gold hue and a complex nose of green apple, lime zest, and white peach, with hints of petrol, wet stone, and delicate floral notes. The palate is concentrated and structured, with vibrant acidity, a mineral-driven core, and a long, elegant finish with subtle honeyed complexity. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in large Austrian oak casks, this Smaragd-level wine reflects the gneiss-rich terroir of Wachau. Perfect with seafood, spicy Asian dishes, or aged cheeses, it offers a refined dining experience. With nearly a decade of aging, it is drinking beautifully, showcasing mature petrol notes, and can evolve further over the next 8-12 years. This Riesling is a collector’s gem, embodying Hirtzberger’s reputation for crafting world-class Austrian whites with precision and depth.