Morstein Riesling – 2021

Organic Riesling from the Westhofener Morstein Grand Cru

The 2021 Morstein Riesling from the Karl May winery is a dry organic single-vineyard wine from the Westhofener Morstein Grand Cru in Rheinhessen. Concentrated, mineral-driven, and age-worthy, it holds 94 points from James Suckling. A great Riesling for special evenings.

Morstein Riesling 2021 is a dry organic single-vineyard wine from the Karl May winery, sourced from the Westhofener Morstein Grand Cru in Rheinhessen. Vinum raved that every Riesling here surpasses the last, all exhibiting great concentration and minerality. A wine that tells the story of its origin in the glass and will become even more beautiful with a few years of aging.

Citrus, herbs, cool limestone minerality

The Morstein reveals itself as citrus-forward and profound, with intense minerality and tart herbal notes.

On the palate, it is concentrated, precise, and persistent, carried by a cool salinity that speaks of the limestone in the soil. With only 1.2 grams of residual sugar, it is uncompromisingly dry, while the 7.5 grams of acidity provide tension and longevity. This is not a wine for a quick sip, but one that takes its time and deserves yours. You can feel how fruit and stone balance one another—mineral, salty, and long-lasting.

A great soloist and elegant companion

Served in a large glass at 10 to 12 degrees Celsius, the Morstein unfolds its full depth.

It works wonderfully as a soloist for a quiet evening, but equally complements elegant dishes featuring veal, premium fish, or aged hard cheese. Air from a carafe does it good, allowing it to open up layer by layer. A few years of patience in the cellar will serve it well, revealing even more complexity and roundness. If you want to compare vineyard sites, place it alongside the Osthofen Goldberg Riesling, another Grand Cru from the Karl May winery.

A parcel from an uncle, planted with Wachau genetics

The Morstein site was already mentioned in records in 1282 as "in loco marstein," which means boundary stone.

The south-facing vineyard lies at an altitude of 150 to 240 meters and covers about 151 hectares. The deep loess soil is interspersed with clayey limestone marl, the terra fusca formed from the coral reefs of an ancient sea. Peter and Fritz May manage a parcel here that their uncle planted with German clones and vines with Wachau genetics from the Jamek winery—a selection massale.

The twelve-year-old vines ripen slowly in this high-altitude site, developing fine, balanced aromas. In the cellar, the wine is fermented spontaneously in wooden barrels, resting on the lees for six months and maturing in wood, which imparts strength and creaminess.

The Eichelmann guide ranks the winery among Germany's best with four stars; the 2021 Morstein received 94 James Suckling points, and its predecessor from 2020 even earned 93 Parker points. If you let it cellar for a few more years, it will reward you with additional depth. Explore more from the Karl May winery selection and our German white wines. Truly impressive.

Morstein Riesling – a wine and its values

• Origin: Wine from Germany
• Region: Rheinhessen
• Vineyard: Westhofener Morstein
• Winery: Karl May - Fritz and Peter
• Grape Variety: Riesling
• Vintage: 2021
• 12.5% ABV alcohol
• 7.5 g/l acidity
• 1.2 g/l residual sugar
• 94 points James Suckling

Organic inspection body DE-ÖKO-039 – German Agriculture