2024 Alzinger, Leo - Riesling Steinertal Smaragd (750ml)

Leo Alzinger Sr. founded this now celebrated Wachau estate back in 1983, and the domaine has spent the decades since building a reputation for restraint and clarity rather than sheer power. His son, Leo Jr., who took over daily operations in 2002, carries that founding vision forward, working from a base in Unterloiben with parcels in two of the valley's most respected sites.

Steinertal itself is a hidden, just five and a half hectare vineyard tucked into a noticeably cooler pocket of the Danube valley. Riesling grows here on the highest, poorest, most gneiss rich ground, terrain considered ideally suited to the variety. The grapes are crushed whole cluster, given a brief maceration, then left to settle for about a day before a spontaneous fermentation begins in stainless steel, finished with only a touch of neutral Austrian oak.

The 2024 offers a quiet, layered nose of crushed citrus leaf and lime that opens further with air, leading into a palate built entirely around citrus, precision, and linear brightness. Orange zest and a hint of kumquat add complexity, and the finish carries a delicate saltiness. Try it with raw oysters, seared tuna, or a soft, mild cheese.