Riesling 120 N.N. 2024

Wine description for Riesling 120 N.N. 2024 by Odinstal

Character

The light, straightforward Riesling in Odinstal’s range: 11% alcohol, stainless steel, no skin contact. Andreas Schumann deliberately intends it to be easy to understand. Jancis Robinson awarded the 2024 vintage 17 out of 20 points, and Wine Advocate gave it 90.

Terroir & Origin

Unlike the 350 N.N. wines, this Riesling does not grow high up in the monopole vineyard site, but rather in the valley, at around 120 metres above sea level; hence the name. It is the estate’s only vineyard in the “sea of vines” of the Palatinate, planted in the 1980s on sandy soils between Niederkirchen and Friedelsheim, a good 200 metres below the vines on the forest clearing. The late ripening of the forest clearing plays no role here; the wine expresses the Palatinate of the plains.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Riesling, fermented in stainless steel. The wine remains on its full lees until shortly before bottling. While the estate ferments other wines on the skins or works with whole bunches, it expressly avoids skin contact for the 120 N.N. to keep the wine accessible.

Nose & Palate

Jancis Robinson describes green apple, preserved lemon, rosemary and sage. On the palate, it remains light and linear at 11% alcohol. The herbal notes of rosemary and sage give it more profile than one might expect from such a slender Riesling.

Food Pairings

With tarte flambée, trout with herb butter, gnocchi in sage butter, or a salad with fresh goat’s cheese. Light enough also as an aperitif or for an early evening glass, without the wine becoming tiring.