Weingut Monchhof Mosel Urzig Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett (Off Dry) 2018

The grapes come from the staircase-steep amphitheatre-shaped vineyards of Ürziger Würzgarten, which translates as Spice Garden. The volcanic rhyolitic soils are derived from volcanic eruptions over 200 million years ago and are layered with red slate. Due to the southern exposure and the protective rocks, Ürziger Würzgarten is one of the warmer microclimates, producing opulent, aromatic, spicy Riesling with a typical zesty finish. The Kabinett is made from ungrafted 40 to 50-year-old vines that have their original European rootstock and were planted in the very volcanic part of the Würzgarten. The vines are trained on the vertical shoot positioning system (VSP). The steep vineyard rows can be accessed by machine, which has made leaf removal, precise treatment application and canopy management easier. Through summer leaf removal, photosynthesis is slowed, delaying physical ripening but allowing for a later harvest with more aromatically ripe grapes. As a result, the wines have less alcohol but good aromatic maturity. The grapes are hand-harvested.