Winemaker Notes
Kieselberg means “gravel mountain” and this vineyard is on a plateau above Deidesheim. Full sun exposure leads to a high level of ripeness, but in 2018, it shows a more savory character than Langenmorgen, for example. The fruit shows the classic pit fruits here, ripe yellow peach and apricot, but the herbal, flinty character of the site is also apparent. The soils here are sandy loam with gravel and pebbles over sandstone.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
This sunny and relatively dry region served for many years as a German tourist mecca and was associated with low cost, cheerful wines. But since the 1980s, it has gained a reputation as one of Germany’s more innovative regions, which has led to increased international demand.