Emmerich Knoll Riesling Smaragd Vinothekfüllung 2015

Knoll senior confirmed some botrytis involvement here — fruit drawn largely from Loibenberg, where rot pressure was severe enough to push Pichler's share into BA and TBA territory. The nose is heady and layered: candied lime, grapefruit peel, licorice, overripe pear, musk and a mushroomy undercurrent that edges toward Auslese territory. On the palate, things open up with a subtly oily, expansive weight, and Knoll didn't shy away from acknowledging that Auslese character. The complexity is genuine, but botrytis has left its mark — a slightly rough, drying grip on the finish and a shortage of primary fruit juiciness that sharpens the citrus pith and pear skin impressions. Persistence is real and the structure is there, though one wonders whether botrytis will accelerate rather than prolong this wine's arc in bottle. Worth watching closely.