Riesling Buntsandstein 2021

2021 was a year of extremes in many respects. The heavy rainfall and the resulting impact of peronospora caused enormous losses. The harvest at the beginning of November revealed losses of up to 40% compared to normal vintages.  

According to its name, the Riesling grows on coloured sandstone and comes from two plots that were planted in 1978 and 1983.

The Riesling was fermented in stainless steel tanks. 5% whole grapes provide structure and a touch more Andreas Schumann. After 9 months, the batches were blended and allowed to rest for a further 13 months until bottling in stainless steel tanks on the full lees and without the addition of sulphur. Shortly before bottling, the wine was lightly sulphurised in August 2023 and finally bottled without filtration.

3.3 g/l residual sugar meets 7.6 g/l acidity with a low 11.5 % alcohol by volume.

Bright lemon yellow with bright reflections

Clear aromas characterise this Riesling on the nose. Green tea, lemons and cold herbal extract dominate the picture. Jasmine blossom and some daisies are gently in the air. The density and length of the green tea then slowly builds. Grated lemon and bergamot provide a tart freshness. Fresh peas and fennel can be recognised very delicately. This is followed by a wall of ethereal components. Lemon thyme, mint, lemon balm and lemongrass have an enormous presence alongside parsley and chervil. A hint of citrus zest reappears later in a second wave.

Buntsandstein Riesling from 2021 is racy and has a tremendous amount of pull on the palate. It is astringent, refreshing and has plenty of cool elements. On the other hand, it also has a tart, bitter side that duels wonderfully with the present acidity structure. The ethereal nuances clearly characterise the aroma. In terms of feel, however, it is almost more like Earl Grey tea than green tea. Tannins and phenols lend this lightweight plenty of density and structure.