F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Steinertal 2016

Honeydew melon and white peach lead, laced with almond and a distinct Szechuan pepper bite. There's a lushness to the fruit here, extract-driven and sustained, but it never goes soft; a sharp, salivating mineral edge keeps everything focused and alive. Hints of green herb and smoldering earth surface on the long finish, adding intrigue to what is already a deeply satisfying Steinertal. The balance between richness and invigoration is the point, and Pichler nails it.