Riesling „Im Sonnenschein“ GG 2021

Wine Description for Riesling „Im Sonnenschein“ GG 2021 by Ökonomierat Rebholz

Colour & Appearance

Medium straw yellow with a clear, luminous shine – a wine that already signals energy and freshness in the glass.

Nose

Unlike many cool, restrained 2021s, this Riesling surprises with an unusually juicy, open-hearted aromatics. Delicate notes of lemon crème and white flowers form the foundation, flanked by ripe pear, fresh apple and the slightly tart elegance of apple skin. Exotic accents of carambola lend depth to the nose, whilst a fine undertone of smoke and mint provides mineral complexity.

Palate

On the palate, the „Im Sonnenschein“ reveals its powerful, precise side: juicy, bright and open, with an energetic acidity that keeps the wine in motion. Citrus fruit dominates the flavour profile – cooler and more focused than the nose suggests. Remarkable is the pronounced salinity, which the shell limestone soil brings to the glass with impressive directness, combined with a fine, almost creamy texture. A pleasantly firm tannin structure gives the wine backbone and definition, clearly distinguishing it from a pure fruit expressionist.

Finish

Long, sinewy and salty – the finish resonates with mineral precision and impressively underscores the ageing potential of this Grand Cru.

Terroir & Origin

The vineyard site „Im Sonnenschein“ in Siebeldingen is an exceptional phenomenon on the Palatinate Haardt ridge: whilst most vineyard sites face east, this vineyard benefits from a southern exposure in the Queich valley. At an altitude of 160 to 250 metres with a slope gradient of 5 to 20%, the Riesling grows on shell limestone soils from the Triassic period – one of the region’s most characterful substrates, which gives the wine its unmistakable salinity and mineral tension.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Riesling, vinified with artisanal care: Following destemming and a 24-hour maceration, natural clarification through sedimentation followed. Fermentation took place in stainless steel, followed by a six-month maturation on fine lees – a method that gives the wine its creamy texture and aromatic complexity without compromising its freshness. At 12.5% vol. and dry, the wine remains lean and precise.

Food Pairing Recommendations

An ideal companion for fine dining: Flambéed pike-perch with almond foam harmonises perfectly with the wine’s creamy minerality. Equally convincing: Salmon ceviche with lime sorbet, cape gooseberries and coriander, where the Riesling’s lively acidity and salinity shine brilliantly. For vegetarians, grilled courgettes with dukkah and labneh is recommended – the nutty spice of the dukkah meets the wine’s mineral depth with great elegance.

Special Features

A Grand Cru that reinterprets the 2021 vintage: Where other wines from this year show coolness and restraint, the „Im Sonnenschein“ by Ökonomierat Rebholz presents juiciness, warmth and an almost Mediterranean openness – without sacrificing minerality and tension. A wine with clear ageing potential, which already delights today, but in five to ten years should promise even greater depth.