Riesling 120 N.N. 2023

Wine Description for Riesling 120 N.N. 2023 from Odinstal

Colour & Appearance

Luminous straw yellow with subtle cloudiness and bright reflections – an honest, unadorned picture of a natural wine.

Nose

The nose is unmistakably idiosyncratic and captivating in equal measure. Dried grasses, hay and wild herbs dominate the first impression, accompanied by marjoram and wildflower meadows. Beneath shimmer nutty-oxidative notes: chopped almonds and yeast pastries lend depth and complexity. The fruit emerges unexpectedly – warm quince, candied ginger, grilled pineapple and ripe peach break up the purist picture in a surprising way. Reductive fermentation aromatics and deliberate must oxidation are clearly discernible – and intentional. A Riesling that is absolutely at rest with itself.

Palate

On the palate, the 120 N.N. unfolds with remarkable fullness and pressure – for a wine with only 11% alcohol a remarkable achievement. The phenolic structure forms the supporting framework, the acidity (7.1 g/l) takes a proactive stance, promotes the nutty-yeasty aromas and simultaneously subordinates itself to the phenolic impression. The fruit recedes whilst the ethereal-herbal side – garden mint, lemon balm, lemon thyme and lemongrass – moves to the fore. Despite all its structure and tactile qualities, the wine remains lively and fresh.

Finish

Long, saline-mineral and characterised by herbal freshness. The phenolic structure resonates sustainably and leaves a dry, invigorating finish with a clear signature.

Terroir & Origin

The vines stand on sand, clay and gravel in the Palatinate – a sparse, permeable terroir that gives the wine its purist, bone-dry character. The vines were already planted in 1988 and consequently produce concentrated, deep-flavoured fruit.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Riesling, harvested as early as 10 September 2023. Fermentation and maturation entirely in stainless steel, 5% whole bunch processing including malolactic fermentation. The wine matured on full lees until August. The result: merely 0.3 g/l residual sugar, 7.1 g/l acidity and a surprisingly low sulphur content of only 35 mg/l.

Food Pairing Recommendations

A wine for table and kitchen with character. Ideal with oysters and raw fish, but equally with Asian noodle dishes with ginger and lemongrass, grilled vegetables with herb vinaigrette or aged goat’s cheese. Also as a standalone aperitif for the curious, a discovery.

Special Features

The 120 N.N. – the altitude designation in the name is programme – is not a wine for conventionalists. With its deliberately natural approach, minimal sulphur content and unusual aromatic language, it is a clear statement for purist, honest Riesling beyond the mainstream. A wine that polarises – and does so with conviction.

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