2020 Kallstadt Saumagen Riesling Spätlese dry Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht Pfalz 0.75l

2020 Kallstadt Saumagen Riesling Spätlese dry Winery Koehler-Ruprecht - Palatinate
single-vineyard wine

Origin:

The Koehler-Ruprecht winery in Kallstadt is one of the most traditional wineries in the Palatinate region. It achieved international renown under Bernd Philippi , who set standards with his distinctive Rieslings from the Kallstadter Saumagen vineyard. Dominik Sona has been consistently pursuing this lineage since 2014. The Saumagen is considered one of the best Riesling vineyards in Germany: a 40-hectare terroir characterized by limestone marl, loess, and sandstone on the western outskirts of Kallstadt. The winery's 4-hectare plots on the southeast-facing slope have been producing long-lasting, complex Rieslings that enjoy international renown for decades.

Expansion:

The harvest is carried out by hand in several rounds to select only golden-yellow, healthy grapes for the dry Spätlese. After a short maceration period, the wine undergoes spontaneous fermentation in traditional German 1200- liter barrels . Aging takes place without fining and without the use of modern cellar technology, resting on the full lees for almost a year. The wine is then bottled unfiltered – an uncompromisingly classic, artisanal style .

Aroma & Taste:

The 2020 Saumagen Riesling Spätlese dry opens with aromas of ripe yellow fruit, citrus, and apricot , underpinned by spicy herbs and chalky minerality . On the palate, it is both powerful and elegant , with a creamy texture, ripe, balanced acidity, and a distinctive mineral note. The finish is long, salty, and delicately spicy , carried by inner tension and a characteristic Saumagen depth.

Food recommendation:

An ideal accompaniment to veal loin with morel sauce , grilled pike-perch on a bed of herbs , or poultry terrine with truffles . Strong goat cheese or Palatinate sausage with sauerkraut are also exciting regional pairings.

Special features of the 2020 vintage in the Palatinate:

The 2020 vintage in the Palatinate region was characterized by warm, dry summer weather. Thanks to sufficient water supply in the limestone-marl soils of the Saumagen region, ripening remained balanced. The Rieslings exhibit concentrated fruit, moderate acidity, and clear terroir characteristics . For dry single-vineyard wines, 2020 is considered a very good vintage with harmonious stylistics and good aging potential .

Conclusion:

The 2020 Saumagen Riesling Spätlese dry is a prime example of Koehler-Ruprecht's stylistic consistency: traditional, long-lasting, and terroir-focused . It showcases the unique combination of Palatinate ripeness with the saline, mineral tension of Saumagen. A wine that continues the estate's distinguished history and impressively confirms why Saumagen is one of Germany's most legendary Riesling sites.