2021 Okonomierat Rebholz Riesling Ganz Horn Im Sonnenschein Grosses Gewachs
Wine Profile & Character
Im Sonnenschein occupies a privileged position within the Ganz Horn parcel, part of the mosaic of grand sites that Dr. Bürklin-Wolf has cultivated biodynamically for well over a decade in the Mittelhaardt. The soils here are a complex layering of weathered sandstone, clay, and calcareous marl, deposited over eons and interrupted by veins of basalt from ancient volcanic activity that once shaped this stretch of the Pfalz. This geological heterogeneity gives the vines access to both warmth-retaining clay and the cooling, mineral-driven qualities of limestone, producing fruit of unusual tension and depth. The site’s name, “in the sunshine,” is no exaggeration—its exposure and airflow allow for full phenolic ripeness while biodynamic farming, low yields, and meticulous canopy management preserve acidity and aromatic precision, hallmarks of the Bürklin-Wolf house style.
The 2021 vintage, cooler and more classically structured than recent warm years, has sharpened this wine’s mineral core without sacrificing ripeness. On the nose, white flowers and quince give way to notes of wet stone, crushed chalk, and a faint smokiness reminiscent of struck flint. The palate is dense yet linear, built on a chassis of firm, saline acidity that carries orchard fruit—yellow apple, white peach—alongside deeper tones of lanolin and dried herbs. Extract from the calcareous soils lends a textural weight to the mid-palate, while the finish tightens into pure mineral salinity, a signature of Grosses Gewächs fruit grown on limestone-influenced ground.
This is a wine built for patience. The 2021 vintage’s naturally elevated acidity and moderate alcohol suggest a long, gradual unfolding in bottle, with the wine’s youthful austerity relaxing into honeyed, saline complexity over the next decade and beyond. Early drinking will reward those who appreciate precision and coiled energy, but the wine’s true character—layered, textural, and resonant with terroir—will only fully emerge with a decade or more of cellar rest.
Sourced Profile
Compiled from producer and published descriptions, not a firsthand tasting by our team.
Appearance: Pale straw-gold with a faint green tinge at the rim, brilliantly clear with a fine, steady core of light.
Aromas & Bouquet: An intricate bouquet opens with white blossom, quince, and green apple, before deepening into wet stone, crushed chalk, and a subtle flinty smokiness. With aeration, hints of lanolin and dried chamomile emerge, lending the nose a savory, textured complexity beyond simple fruit.
Palate & Structure: Dense and linear, the palate is anchored by a taut, saline acidity that gives the wine remarkable forward momentum. Yellow apple and white peach are layered over deeper notes of wet limestone and herbal bitterness, with a textural richness from the site's calcareous soils providing weight without softness. The interplay between fruit, mineral, and structure evolves continuously across the palate.
Finish & Longevity: The finish is long, saline, and mineral-driven, with a gentle phenolic grip that lends structure rather than harshness. Persistence is considerable, echoing citrus pith and wet stone well after the wine has left the palate.
Food Pairings
This wine's mineral intensity and acid backbone make it an ideal partner for pan-seared turbot with beurre blanc, where its salinity mirrors the dish's richness. Roasted quail with quince compote plays beautifully against the wine's stone-fruit and floral undertones. For something more textural, a Alsatian-style choucroute with smoked pork underscores the wine's savory, flinty complexity, while aged Comté or a firm alpine cheese highlights its lanolin and mineral depth.
Cellaring & Ageability
Drink 2027–2045, allowing the wine's youthful tension to soften into deeper, honeyed complexity. Expect a gradual evolution from mineral austerity toward richer, saline-driven maturity over the next two decades.