Region and Vineyards
Morstein is a VDP.GROSSE LAGE on the limestone hills above Westhofen in Rheinhessen. The heart of the site lies between 180-240 m on south-facing slopes with gradients up to 20%. Topsoils are heavy clay-marl with limestone fragments; beneath, porous limestone channels water and minerals, ensuring vine resilience and a distinctively chalky profile. This matrix—warm, stony, and well-drained—yields Rieslings of concentration, salinity, and firm structure.
Weingut Wittmann farms Morstein biodynamically (certified organic since the late 1980s; biodynamic since 2004). The estate's contiguous holdings across Westhofen's grand sites benefit from the Rhine's moderating influence and significant diurnal shifts, preserving acidity while achieving full phenolic ripeness—key to the wine's tension and precision. Notably, Morstein is among Westhofen's most historic vineyards, first recorded in 1282.
Winemaking
This is 100% Riesling, harvested by hand from the Morstein Grosse Lage. Fermentation proceeds spontaneously with native yeasts in large, neutral oak casks (traditional Stück/Doppelstück of roughly 1,200-2,500 L), a regimen designed to emphasize texture and terroir rather than oak flavor. The wine is matured on fine lees in the estate's vaulted 19th-century cellar, building mid-palate creaminess and subtle savory complexity.
Typical analytical profile for the cuvée is bone-dry with moderate alcohol; the 2023 shows 12.5% vol. and a chiselled, saline line reflecting its limestone origins. Bottling precedes the VDP release on 1 September of the year following harvest.
Tasting Notes
- Color: Pale lemon with green glints; brilliant clarity.
- Aroma: Lemon zest, kumquat, mirabelle, crushed chalk, cool herbs (lemon balm, thyme), subtle flinty reduction.
- Palate: Taut, bone-dry and intensely mineral; citrus-pith drive over chalk-salt depth, fine phenolic grip and vibrant acidity; exceptionally long, precise, and ageworthy.
Did you know?
Morstein is one of Rheinhessen's oldest documented crus—first mentioned in 1282—and Wittmann raises its GGs almost exclusively in large old oak, a house style that has helped define modern dry Rheinhessen Riesling. In 2023, Morstein GG drew exceptional critical acclaim, including 100 points from James Suckling and 98 from Vinous.
Wine Pairing Ideas
- Sea bass with lemon-brown butter: saline minerality and citrus cut enrich the dish while cleansing butterfat.
- Roast chicken with tarragon and fennel: herbal lift mirrors the wine's cool-toned aromatics; acidity refreshes.
- Pork schnitzel with capers: bright citrus and chalky grip slice through crisp fat, echoing caper salinity.
- Aged Comté: nutty umami resonates with lees texture and stony depth.
