Saumagen Riesling GG – 2021

Saumagen Riesling GG – Grand Cru from Weingut Rings

The Rings Saumagen Riesling GG 2021 from Weingut Rings is a mineral-spicy Riesling shaped by limestone. Even on the nose, one can sense the chalky-cool character of this single-vineyard Riesling. It smells of local stone fruit and meadow herbs, with a hint of ethereal mint. On the palate, the Saumagen Riesling is fine, delicate, immensely elegant, and tender, as only a Riesling from a top site can be. Here, mineral salinity meets juicy pear and yellow fruitiness, culminating in a brilliant length. The Rings Saumagen promises very long aging potential.

Rings – Winemaking

The grapes for this Grand Cru grow in the Steinacker vineyard. The Steinacker is one of the most traditional vineyards in the Palatinate, first registered at the beginning of the 19th century and considered Kallstadt's best site. Located west of Kallstadt, this small valley basin covers about 40 hectares and opens to the south and southeast. Sunlight and warmth during the day, wind, and cool nights offer optimal conditions for viticulture. Tertiary limestone, i.e., calcareous loamy soils, partly mixed with loess loam, partly with calcareous marl interspersed with numerous limestones, predominates here. A permeable, barren soil that allows vines to root deeply, ideal for Riesling and Pinot Noir.

About 2 hectares of Saumagen are cultivated by Andy and Steffen Rings. They place great importance on healthy soils, as only from them can healthy vines stand and healthy grapes grow. Thus, they begin early with the sowing of buckwheat, clover, and radish for deep rooting of the soil, which prevents soil erosion, attracts beneficial insects, and retains moisture in the soil, which is revitalized with the application of horse manure as a natural fertilizer. Canopy management is also important for the quality of the wine: double shoots are removed manually, and depending on the weather, the grapes are defoliated and thinned to aerate them. Weingut Rings harvests 2,200 liters/hectare here.

The grapes are hand-picked and selected at the optimal harvest time and pressed as whole clusters. After a short maceration period, the natural yeasts in the must begin spontaneous fermentation. The wine ages in half-stück barrels and stainless steel tanks for 10 months on the lees before being late-sulfured and bottled without fining, enzymes, or other aids.

Saumagen Riesling – a wine and its values

• Origin Wine from Germany
• Growing region Palatinate
• VDP. Großes Gewächs
• Grape variety Riesling
• 13.0 % vol. Alcohol
• 0.6 g/l Residual sugar
• 7.8 g/l Acidity

Organic control number – DE-ÖKO-022 German Agriculture