“Aus den Lagen” Riesling 2023 1500ml Magnum

Wine description for “Aus den Lagen” Riesling 2023 1500ml Magnum by Christmann

Character

Steffen Christmann describes his ideal as the Prima Ballerino among Rieslings: powerful yet elegant, with perfect balance. This dry blend from the estate’s premier parcels lives up to precisely that aspiration – taut, juicy and marked by a salty minerality that the winemaker himself likens to a silky texture. A wine of tension and presence, which in the large magnum format shows particular ageing potential.

Terroir & Origin

The A. Christmann estate in Gimmeldingen on the Mittelhaardt traces its history back to 1798. The grapes come from vineyards on coloured sandstone, limestone and terrace gravel – soils that lend each wine its own distinctive signature. All 17 hectares of the estate are classified as either VDP.ERSTE or VDP.GROSSE LAGE, including legendary sites such as IDIG, Meerspinne and Ölberg-Hart.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Riesling dominates the estate’s plantings at 70 per cent – alongside it, there is only Pinot. Since 2003, the family has farmed biodynamically, certified by both respekt-BIODYN and EU Organic. Horn manure, horn silica and compost preparations replace synthetic chemicals, and all work follows the lunar calendar. The result, according to Steffen Christmann: the roots reach deeper, the vineyards have found their balance – and the wines display greater tension. Three generations stand behind this signature style: grandfather Fritz, still working in the vineyards at over 90 years of age; Steffen, as VDP President; and daughter Sophie, a Geisenheim graduate with experience from Bordeaux and Australia.

Food Pairing Recommendations

The taut acidity and salty depth of this dry Riesling make it a versatile everyday wine. Classic with pan-fried pike-perch or trout meunière, it is equally convincing alongside Asian dishes featuring ginger and lemongrass. Pork fillet with a light jus or simple asparagus with hollandaise sauce also find a worthy partner here. In magnum format, it is the perfect wine for a long evening for two – or for an occasion that deserves more than a standard bottle.