Karl May – Westhofener Morstein Riesling – [BIO]

The Karl May Westhofener Morstein Riesling 2021 is an exceptional white wine from the grand cru site Morstein in the Wonnegau region of Rheinhessen. Vinum commented: "One Riesling here is better than the next; all are wines of great concentration and minerality, whether from Westhofener Morstein, Bechtheimer Geyersberg, or Osthofener Goldberg."

The winery is also among Germany's elite, with 4 stars in the renowned Eichelmann guide, and its Goldberg and Morstein single-vineyard Rieslings have once again made it onto the list of the year's best Rieslings. The Morstein 2021 received a fantastic 94 points from James Suckling.

The famous single vineyard Morstein, located south of Monzernheim and west of Westhofen in Rheinhessen, was already mentioned in 1282 with the name "in loco marstein," which means boundary stone or landmark.

Morstein, facing south and lying at approximately 150-240m above sea level, encompasses about 151 hectares of vineyard area. Fertile, deep loess soil with clayey silt, also called pararendzina, originates from the Quaternary period and consists of wind-deposited calcareous dust during the ice ages. This is interspersed with clayey marl with limestone, known as terra fusca, in the upper layer. It formed from the coral reefs of the Tertiary primeval sea.

Peter and Fritz May are fortunate to be able to cultivate a parcel of Riesling here, planted by their uncle. The choice of Riesling vines is also interesting, as their uncle planted various German clones and clones with Wachau genetics originating from Weingut Jamek, which is also referred to as selection massale.

Due to the rather high altitude of the parcel, the berries on the twelve-year-old Riesling vines can ripen slowly and develop fine, balanced aromas. The Karl May Morstein Riesling 2020, with its citrus-accented fruit, intense minerality, and tart herbal notes, was awarded 93 Parker points.

The Karl May Morstein is an elegant food companion and a magnificent soloist that gladly flows into the glass after a few years of bottle aging.

Karl May Wine – Preparation

The Karl May Morstein Riesling Osthofen is a single-vineyard wine. The Morstein vineyard in nearby Westhofen enjoys a worldwide reputation. There, on deep loess soils interspersed with calcareous marl, the grapes for the Morstein Riesling grow on old vines in organically managed vineyards.

To harvest fully ripe Riesling grapes in autumn, Fritz and Peter May begin as early as January with gentle pruning and early defoliation of the grape zone for optimal sun exposure, as well as yield reduction through green harvesting in early summer. Selective hand-picking of the grapes often takes place in several passes. The path to the new winery is not far; there, the grapes are gently processed. After a short maceration period, they are gently pressed, and the must is spontaneously fermented in wooden barrels, where it remains on the lees for 6 months and is then aged in wood. This brings power and complexity, fullness and creaminess to this single-vineyard wine.

Morstein Riesling – a wine and its characteristics

• Origin Germany
• Growing region Rheinhessen
• Site Westhofener Morstein
• Grape variety Riesling
• 12.5% vol. alcohol
• 7.5/l acidity
• 1.2 g/l residual sugar

Organic inspection body DE-ÖKO-039 – German Agriculture