The Gimmeldinger Meerspinne Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2024 from Christmann masterfully demonstrates how a purist style and the refined energy of top Palatinate sites intertwine.
Bottler: Winery A. Christmann, Peter-Koch-Str. 43, 67435 Gimmeldingen/Pfalz / Germany
In the glass
Colour
Pale straw yellow.
Nose
Defined by wet stone, petrichor and smoky herbs, underpinned by salted lemon, limequat peel, apple, pear and nuances of almond pastry.
Palate
Electrifying and gripping on the palate with dancing fruit, polished acidity, a prominent saltiness and a delicately spicy ginger kick.
Character
A highly elegant, energetic Riesling with a silky texture and enormous tension – powerful, yet consistently nimble.
Pairing
Excellent with fresh oysters, pan-seared pike-perch on herb foam, or refined Asian dishes with a light touch of ginger.
Notes
A purist Grosses Gewächs from biodynamic farming (respekt-BIODYN), which derives its deep, mineral terroir expression on limestone and coloured sandstone marl through spontaneous fermentation and aging in traditional large oak casks (Fuder).
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
A pale straw yellow with bright highlights in the glass.
Nose
An immensely purist opening: cool minerality, wet stone, petrichor and crushed oyster shells emerge in the glass, underpinned by delicate smoke and fresh herbs. With a bit of air, preserved lemon, limequat zest, as well as nuances of pear, green apple and delicate almond pastry join in.
Palate
On the palate, this Grosses Gewächs reveals impressive finesse – slender and focused, yet by no means austere. The wine possesses a vibrant energy and dancing fruit, carried by a crystal-clear acidity structure. The mouthfeel is characterised by salty grip and piquant notes reminiscent of fresh ginger.
Terroir & Origin
The Meerspinne is a historic prime plot within the Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten in the Pfalz. Its terroir is defined by a limestone and red sandstone marl topsoil over a massive limestone subsoil. Father Steffen and daughter Sophie Christmann have been working biodynamically for over two decades in accordance with the respekt-BIODYN guidelines.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Single-varietal Riesling with a moderate 12.0% ABV. The whole bunches were gently pressed after an extended skin contact time. This was followed by a warm spontaneous fermentation and aging on the full lees in a traditional large Fuder oak cask.
Food Pairings
An ideal partner for maritime cuisine such as fresh oysters, refined ceviche with citrus flavours or steamed turbot. Equally well suited to delicate Asian dishes featuring mild ginger and lemongrass.
Particularities
Low yields of just around 40 hl/ha impart a fascinating depth and electrifying tension to this respekt-BIODYN certified wine, fully living up to the estate’s description of it as a »danseur étoile« among Rieslings.
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