2022 Riesling Forster Jesuitengarten Grosses Gewächs

The Mosbachers, in the heart of Forst, farms 23 hectares, of which 80% are Riesling, followed by Pinots Blanc and Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and Merlot – supplemented by a number of PiWi-varieties (fungal-resistant hybrids) which replaced Dornfelder at the estate. Sabine Mosbacher-Düringer and her husband Jürgen Düringer run this 1921-founded estate together. During my visit, I tasted a range of their 2022 Rieslings plus some varietal wines. There is no recipe for the Riesling. Grapes are crushed, and some parcels receive skin contact. Decisions are made parcel by parcel; both cultured and ambient yeasts are used to ferment the wines, mainly in stainless steel and large used barrels for single-site wines. The wines named after soil types, i.e. Buntsandstein, Kalk and Basalt are declassified blends of the Erste and Grosse Lagen of these soil types and represent excellent value. The wine style is bright, pushing the clarity of fruit in a dry, unpretentious and joyful fashion.