Josef Fischer Grüner Veltliner Privat Smaragd Wachau 2020

For centuries, the Fischer family has represented the cool, southern side of the Danube river – growing expressive, focused, and fresh Grüner Veltliners and Rieslings that consistently over-deliver. Quality like this 94-pointer, for less than $20 a bottle, is almost unheard of… you know what to do!

Josef Fischer is the fifth-generation winemaker in a family whose roots in the Wachau stretch back across the centuries, all planted firmly on the southern banks of the Danube – long teased as the "cool" side of the river. These days, "cool" is exactly the point. As the climate warms, that southern-bank freshness has gone from punchline to superpower, and Josef – who took the reins in 2010 at just 21 years old – has become one of the region's top rising stars. Eleven hectares, all organically farmed, no commercial yeasts, long slow ferments on the fine lees. The man knows what he's doing. 

The Grüner Veltliner "Privat" Smaragd is Fischer's flagship – a hand-picked selection of his best-performing vineyards, aged a full year in big 500-liter barrels. Smaragd is the Wachau's ripest, richest category, and this wine earned 94 points from Falstaff and 91 from Wine Enthusiast, the latter calling out its silky, mineral-framed style. In the glass, we’ve got honeyed yellow fruit – ripe mango, Golden Delicious apple, a swipe of candied orange – all tightened up by a spine of stony minerality and a little peppery Grüner spice. It's full-bodied and generous but never heavy, finishing long on salted grapefruit. Honestly, it leans so plush it flirts with dry Riesling territory. And don't let the 2020 stamp fool you – Josef releases when the wine tells him it's ready, and this thing is very much alive.

This is fresh, concentrated, and very much alive with a vigor and depth that showcases an exemplary facet on the many faces of Austrian white wines. Tack on First Bottle’s free shipping deal on six bottles – and you have one heck of a white wine six-pack in the making!