Gimmeldinger Meerspinne Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2023

Wine Description for Gimmeldinger Meerspinne Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2023 by Christmann

Colour & Appearance

The wine presents itself in the glass in a pale platinum, clear and luminous – a visual promise of the purity and precision that characterise this Riesling.

Nose

The Meerspinne reveals itself as the most purist Grosses Gewächs from the Christmann estate. The nose unveils a fascinating minerality: smoky, iodine and salty, interwoven with the austere freshness of apple skins and stony notes. A subtle nuttiness lends depth. Yet the wine also possesses charm: aromas of quince and yellow plums insinuate themselves, accentuated by salted lemons and a hint of verbena.

Palate

On the palate, the 2023 unfolds its full personality: gripping and purist, with pronounced citrus fruit and marked minerality. The stony texture is elegantly counterbalanced by fine extract sweetness and juicy stone fruit. The silky texture stands in compelling contrast to the spicy, salty and iodine components. This duality – between austerity and mellowness, between minerality and fruit – constitutes the particular appeal of this wine.

Finish

Long, salty-mineral and with lingering citrus freshness that enlivens the palate and calls for the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

The Meerspinne is a historic vineyard site within the Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten, distinguished by its particular quality from the rest of the vineyard. The limestone and buntsandstone-marl topsoil on solid limestone subsoil fundamentally shapes the mineral character of this Riesling. With yields of only 40 hl/ha, the grapes achieve optimal concentration and flavour intensity.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Riesling in pure form. The harvest took place on 16 September 2020. Following whole-bunch maceration and three to six hours of skin contact, the grapes were gently pressed. Spontaneous fermentation lasted until mid-November, followed by maturation on lees in stainless steel and large wooden cask until bottling in July 2021.

Food Pairing Recommendations

A wine for discerning pairings: scallops with lemon butter, pan-fried turbot, oysters, sushi or sashimi, goat’s cheese, but also calf’s sweetbreads or asparagus with hollandaise sauce.

Special Characteristics

With only 12.0% vol. alcohol, this Riesling demonstrates that greatness comes not from power, but from precision and expression. A Grosses Gewächs that places terroir above all else.