# Thörle Riesling Saulheim Kalkstein (2022)

- **Producer:** Weingut Thörle
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Riesling
- **Region:** Rheinhessen, Germany
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €19
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apple, peach, apricot, orange, lemon, herbaceous, cream, butter

## About this wine

Weingut Thörle, located in Saulheim in the Rheinhessen region, has been run by brothers Christoph and Johannes Thörle since 2006. They have elevated the estate to international prominence by focusing on low yields, organic viticulture, and showcasing the unique limestone terroir of their village. This Kalkstein (limestone) bottling is an Ortswein (village wine) sourced from younger vines in their top Grand Cru sites, offering a brilliant expression of Saulheim's mineral-rich soils.

## Interesting facts

- The 2022 vintage marks Weingut Thörle's first officially certified organic release.
- Sourced from younger vines in Grand Cru vineyards like Hölle and Schlossberg, offering Grand Cru complexity at an accessible price.
- The wine is aged on its gross lees for six months, with 60% in traditional large neutral oak casks called Stückfass.

## Food pairing

The high, vibrant acidity and intense limestone minerality of this dry Riesling cut beautifully through the delicate fats of seafood and poultry. Its medium body and subtle creaminess from lees aging allow it to stand up to textured dishes like scallops and roasted chicken, while its bone-dry profile makes it a perfect match for raw shellfish and sushi without clashing.

## Wine making process

The grapes were hand-harvested in late October 2022. Following a gentle crushing, the juice underwent skin maceration for 4 to 20 hours to extract aromatics. Fermentation was carried out spontaneously with indigenous yeasts over eight weeks. The wine was matured on its gross lees for six months until bottling in May 2023, with 60% aged in traditional large neutral oak casks (Stückfass) and 40% in stainless steel tanks.