Riesling Kabinett Rotschiefer

Light foot, big game: This Kabinett from the red slate of the Saar costs just 8.5% ABV — and yet has everything that makes a good Riesling.

Van Volxem is one of the driving forces behind the Riesling renaissance on the Saar. Since Roman Niewodniczanski took over the winery in 2000, the old steep slopes have been systematically restored and organically cultivated. The red slate, after which this wine is named, provides iron-rich, warm soils—a rarity in the cool Saar Valley—which allow for early-ripening grapes with natural residual sweetness.

In the glass: pale straw yellow. On the nose, peach, mirabelle plum, and a hint of citrus blossom. On the palate, a lively acidity unfolds, neatly framing the subtle sweetness—no cloying sugariness, but rather a vibrant tension. The finish is salty and mineral, with a length that is surprising for this category.

Serving temperature 8–10 °C. Drink now until 2029. Pairs well with mildly spicy Asian cuisine, goat cheese, steamed seafood, or simply as an aperitif on a long summer evening.