Bottler: Winery A. Christmann, Peter-Koch-Str. 43, 67435 Gimmeldingen/Pfalz / Germany
In the glass
Colour
Pale straw yellow.
Nose
Nuances of fennel seed, white blossoms, mint and lemon verbena, combined with lime, lemon, bergamot as well as fine notes of smoke, wet stone, almonds and lanolin.
Palate
Complex texture with a fascinating tension between grounding power and dancing lightness, carried by vibrant mineral drive and radiant freshness.
Character
Ethereal, charming and nonchalant – a top-class Riesling with simmering energy and a silky structure.
Pairing
Excellent with pan-fried turbot on lemon linguine, scallops with herb butter or tender veal medallions with lime foam.
Notes
Unique terroir of limestone, red sandstone and basalt in the monopole vineyard IDIG; spontaneously fermented and biodynamically cultivated according to respekt-BIODYN.
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
This impressive magnum bottle presents itself in the glass in a radiant, bright straw yellow.
Nose
An aristocratic aroma of great finesse and ethereal freshness: nuances of fennel seed, white flowers, mint and lemon verbena meet crisp citrus notes such as lime, lemon and bergamot. Subtle hints of smoke, wet stone with lichen, almonds and a touch of lanolin lend the aromatic profile a multi-layered dimension.
Palate
On the palate, the Grosses Gewächs exhibits masterful balance: the wine unites down-to-earth substance with a dancing lightness. At a slender 12.0% ABV, the 2024 vintage comes across as nonchalant, precise and confident. A seething energy and a vibrant mineral vein provide enormous drive and structure.
Terroir & Origin
The Königsbacher IDIG is among the few true Grand Cru sites in Germany. This historically significant steep slope faces south-southeast. A massive limestone bedrock, overlain by Terra Fusca limestone scree, bunter sandstone and basalt, defines the unique soil. Steffen and Sophie Christmann have been farming this masterly site biodynamically for over 20 years (certified by respekt-BIODYN), allowing the vines to reach deep into the limestone terroir.
Grape Variety & Vinification
100% Riesling. Following several hours of skin contact, the juice was fermented spontaneously and warm in traditional large Doppelstück (2400-litre) oak casks and raised dry. Ageing in the 1.5-litre magnum offers this single-vineyard wine the perfect cellaring potential.
Food Pairings
Outstanding with refined salt-crusted sea fish, pan-seared scallops with a citrus reduction, pheasant breast or a delicate wild herb quiche.
Key Features
Virtually a monopole of the A. Christmann family estate. This Grosses Gewächs combines the expertise of three generations with the strict principles of biodynamic viticulture certified by respekt-BIODYN.