2020 Marto Riesling

WINEMAKER: Martin Wörner
REGION: Rheinhessen, GER
VARIETAL: Riesling
VITICULTURE: Organic

Riesling from a single vineyard, Bornheim , 25 year old vines on Limestone with fossilised sediment. Elevage in old oak for 10 months. Textural on the nose initially which I wasn’t expecting. Given some oxygen it transforms into a gem, its trademark minerality coming to the fore. Citrus energy, textured with clarity. A savoury core with tension. Balance and depth, the palate is joyous and long.

Martin comes from an agriculture background, his grandfather was a pioneer—a grape grower that was one of the first in their village of Flonheim to bottle wine under his own banner rather than selling the grapes to the co-op. Martin’s father did not have much interest in the vineyards, making his livelihood instead farming strawberries. The family continued to maintain the vineyards, but until Martin took over in 2015, all the fruit was sold to the co-op.

Martin sought out experience from some of the best producers. In 2015 he worked at Gut Oggau with Eduard and Stephanie Tscheppe and in 2016 at Matassa with Tom Lubbe. His time with Tom was to be the most influential, and he still seeks his guidance when needed (Tom also gifted him two old demi-muds for his first harvest).