Ungstein Nussriegel Riesling – 2023

Ungsteiner Nussriegel Riesling from Weingut Rings grows on variegated sandstone

The 2023 Ungsteiner Nussriegel Riesling from Weingut Rings is a powerful dry white wine from a VDP.Erste Lage site in the Palatinate, grown on loess-loam soil over variegated sandstone. Nine months on the full lees give it depth and breadth, making it approachable even at a young age.

Ungsteiner Nussriegel Riesling 2023 is a dry white wine from the VDP.Erste Lage site Ungsteiner Nussriegel, which is part of Bad Dürkheim and covers around 70 hectares. The south to southwest-facing slope is inclined at an angle of 5 to 15 percent, allowing the grapes to ripen early and fully. With 12.0 percent alcohol, the wine remains surprisingly agile.

Ripe stone fruit and warm spice

Even in the bouquet, you notice that this Riesling comes from a warm corner of the Palatinate and not from the cool limestone soils.

On the nose, there are notes of ripe orchard fruit and yellow fruits, followed by apple, pear, and apricot, as well as a hint of caramel. On the palate, the wine is powerful, punchy, and spicy—a spice that stems from the variegated sandstone lying beneath the loam.

Because the fruit is so ripe and the acidity is so well integrated, this site-specific wine doesn't shut down for years. It is enjoyable to drink early on while still possessing enough substance for extended cellar aging. The finish leaves behind a warm spice that is reminiscent of sun-warmed stone and lingers longer than its age would suggest.

Pairing with guinea fowl, potato gratin, and endive with walnuts

A wine with this level of power calls for dishes that possess some richness and roasted elements of their own.

It pairs classically with roasted guinea fowl, a potato gratin with freshly grated nutmeg, or an endive salad with walnuts, whose slight bitterness highlights the yellow fruit in the wine. Grilled fennel with olive oil is an equally harmonious match.

The wine shows its greatest breadth at 10 to 12 degrees; served cooler, it appears tauter and younger. For those wishing to experience the same vintage from the cooler side of the winery, opt for the Kallstadt Riesling from limestone marl.

Walnut trees between the vine rows

The vineyard gets its name from the walnut trees that used to stand between the rows of vines, casting shade over the alleys. The trees have long since disappeared, but the name remains, telling of a time when other things still grew between the vines.

The soil consists of loess-loam that retains water, while underneath lies variegated sandstone, which stores heat and releases it at night. The Nussriegel is therefore considered frost-resistant, and its vegetation is a few days ahead of the cool Steinacker site every year. The same grape variety produces an entirely different wine here.

The yield is 4,500 liters per hectare; the grapes are pressed whole, and the must ferments with the yeasts from the vineyard. The wine then matures for nine months on the full lees, partly in traditional Halbstück barrels and partly in stainless steel tanks. It is bottled without fining. The entire range of site-specific wines is available in the Weingut Rings hub.

Ungsteiner Nussriegel Riesling 2023 – a white wine and its technical data

• Origin Germany
• Region Palatinate
• Winery Rings
• VDP.Erste Lage
• Grape Variety Riesling
• 12.0% ABV
• 0.4 g/l Residual sugar
• 6.9 g/l Acidity

Organic control number – DE-ÖKO-022 German Agriculture