Riesling Buntsandstein 2018 – Odinstal

The Odinstal vineyard is a small, five-hectare enclave high above Wachenheim an der Weinstraße. It is located directly on the Pechsteinkopf, a small basalt volcano that erupted here 30 million years ago during the formation of the Upper Rhine Graben. The rising basalt has lifted the rock layers above it and pushed them aside, so that basalt, shell limestone, Keuper and mottled sandstone do not lie on top of each other here, but directly next to each other in a very small space.

The vines for the Buntsandstein Riesling come from two plots facing south. One was planted in 1978, the second in 1983. The soils are poor and can only store a little water. This results in very low yields with high concentration.

Straw yellow, green reflections

The 2018 Buntsandstein Riesling starts off distinctly red-fruited and darker on the nose than neighboring terroirs such as Muschelkalk. The finely playful nose varies between a little Cox Orange apple, white currant and elderflower. In addition to white, purple flowers also show up in the glass. Dried herbs are also found again marjoram and lemon thyme for example. The fruit seems ripe and warm overall.

At the palate it shows itself fine-boned, multilayered and adaptable. With a very delicate fruit sweetness, it expands widely. Bright as well as red fruits reappear Ripe pear next to rosehip and lime. The red sandstone on Odinstal at 350 meters above sea level provides the basis for a very good Riesling. The acidity is moderate and the wine seems very balanced, open and present. Storage potential is definitely given. With such drinking pleasure, even non-Riesling drinkers will be convinced by this wine.