
2020 Gruner Veltliner Ried Kreutles Federspiel, Weingut Knoll, Wachau, Austria
OVERVIEW
From the most respected and well known producer in Wachau, this award winning Gruner Veltliner, the Ried Kreutles Federspiel is a single vineyard wine from the 10ha Kreutles vineyard, planted on loess soils.
The 2020 is another standout wine for Knoll and displays lacy notes of orange blossom, alongside yellow plum, pear and white peach. The palate is fresh, creamy and fleshy but with distinct and typical minerality. The hallmark long Knoll finish is present in 2020 too.
CRITIC REVIEWS
From the loess soils of the foothill, the 2020 Ried Kreutles Loibner Grüner Veltliner Federspiel is clear, intense and fresh, combining a coolish, elegant, crystalline spiciness with ripe but fresh fruit and seed aromas. On the palate, this is a fresh, elegant and spicy, finely juicy but also crystalline Kreutles Veltliner with a long, intense and salty finish. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domaine in June 2021. 92 Points. Robert Parker (July 2021)
FOOD PAIRING INSPIRATION
This classic Gruner Veltliner pairs well with Asian spices and classic Austrian hams and cheese as well as Sushi. Famously a great match for Thai food, we recommend trying this wine with a Pad Thai or herby schnitzel.
VINTAGE AND WINEMAKING
The Weingut Knoll Grüner Veltliner Ried Kreutles Federspiel is produced each year with Gruner Veltliner grapes that macerate in the winery for 4 to 6 hours and are then gently pressed. The alcoholic fermentation then begins in 500-litre wooden barrels and stainless steel tanks. Finally, the wine spends 3 months on its fine lees (giving that unctuous quality we come to love from these wines) before being bottled at the winery.
The 2020 vintage had a warm early season causing premature bud burst in Austria but otherwise the vintage was one of the most trying in recent years not least thanks to the pandemic but also hail in August and intermittent rain and cold weather. Early frost damage in April reduced overall yields in Wachau by 20%. However, the vintage was saved by a warm summer but the lack of overall heat in the vintage produced classic Gruner Veltliners, much more in the style of the 90/00s, zippy, alive and refreshing rather than more modern hot vintages.
PRODUCER NOTES
Weingut Knoll is a cult producers of fine Gruner Veltliners and Rieslings in Wachau. The distinctive label with St. Urban on the front is instantly recognisable with wine fans and has, fortunately, not has not been changed in decades. These are wines of style and substance whilst the everything in the vineyard in winery is kept fairly simple, every stage is tackled with excellence.
Knoll farm around 18 hectares, a third of which are challenging terraced vineyards. Grüner Veltliner accounts for around half of the grapes grown in the Kreutles, Trum, Loibenberg and Schütt vineyards whilst Riesling is planted in the Loibenberg, Kellerberg, Pfaffenberg and Schütt vineyards. The highly-sought Vinothekfüllung, a selection of the ripest grapes from various sites, is also made from both varieties - depending on the quality of the vintage.
NEED ADVICE? ASK A SOMM LIVE
Any questions about this wine? Creating a wine list for a function or planning a special meal or gift? Use the chat facility to speak live to one of our in-house sommeliers who can assist in your wine selection.
SERVICE AND STORAGE TIPS
The wine will evolve over the coming decade and take on some tertiary characteristics of Gruner Veltliner but is mostly enjoyed crisp, fresh and young, all hallmarks of this vintage anyway so we'd recommend drinking this wine now-2025.
This wine should be served lightly chilled.
DELIVERY INFORMATION
Delivery is free when you spend over £150. For orders under this amount then a £9.99 delivery charge will be applied.
We use a tracked UPS delivery service who provide text and email tracking updates.
Every bottle sold by CoolerSomm is subject to our quality guarantee. If a wine is corked or faulty, we will replace it.
2020 Gruner Veltliner Ried Kreutles Federspiel, Knoll
Wine Card | |
Wine Producer | Weingut Knoll |
Wine Region | Wachau |
Wine Classification | Wachau |
Wine Type | White |
Grape Variety | Gruner Veltliner |
Vintage | 2020 |
Vintage Quality | Good to Excellent - Parker |
Maturity | Drinking Now & Will Improve |
Body | Mid Bodied |
Sweetness | Dry |
Alcohol % | 12.5% |
Bottle Type | Alsace 75cl |
Serving Temperature | 7-12°C |
Food Pairing | Sushi, Thai Food |
Awards | 92 Points - Wine Advocate |
93 Points - James Suckling |
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.