Mineralstein Dry Riesling 2022, Gerd Stepp , Pfalz, Germany

It is wonderfully satisfying to have this wine in our portfolio and if our beloved locals don't lap it up with gusto, we will! Stylistically this dry Riesling sits at the ripe citrus end of the spectrum with only a gentle, youthful nod to the ’kerosene’ end, and it boasts fabulous mineral complexity, thus the name. Delicious nuances of zesty lime, peach and nectarine tantalise from nose to finish.

 

The grapes come from two vineyard sites in Herxheim am Berg and Bad Dürkheim. Here, on the gentle slopes of the Haardt mountains, the vineyard soils compositions vary between loess-loam with shell-limestone (Muschelkalk) in Herxheim am Berg - and the sites closer to Bad Dürkheim are rich in coloured sandstones. Vineyards on limestone are rather complicated to manage, because of their higher pH / calcium content and therefore the vineyard’s tendency to clorosis (vine stress) - but the wines produced are rich and have a complex structure with ripe yellow fruit notes.  Vineyards on coloured sandstone are less opulent in fruit notes but have a firmer more linear structure with a fresher acidity and a well-defined minerality. When blended together, as here, Gerd Stepp creates a complex yet nuanced style which is refreshing and bursting full of flavour.