Günther Steinmetz Riesling Veldenzer Grafschafter Sonnenberg Alte Reben 2018

Apple, lime, crushed stone, and a cool peppermint note rise from the glass alongside something almost briny — sea air and wet rock. The palate is firm and full, driven by that stony minerality, with bracing citrus zest and a herbal coolness that keeps everything fresh. White peach with a slight pit bitterness adds depth mid-palate, and the finish is long and resonant — notably, the 17 grams of residual sugar barely read as sweetness at all, a natural stopping point in fermentation rather than a stylistic choice. Worth noting: Steinmetz now markets this under the 'Alte Reben' label in large type, with the Veldenzer Grafschafter Sonnenberg vineyard name reduced to fine print — an admittedly little-known but genuinely outstanding site that deserves the spotlight.