Outcrop-analogue studies are rarely carried out on a very detailed scale of just several hundred metres, which represents a common inter-well spacing. Superb outcrop conditions in south Germany for Upper Muschelkalk shoal-water carbonates located on a carbonate ramp allowed us to perform a detailed analysis of their sedimentary and poroperm organisation. The cyclic structure of the carbonates is evident in three types of genetic sequences 13m thick, which in turn build larger-scale sequences. Lateral variations of microfacies in the study area are restricted to a few percent of individual components, leading to an excellent degree of correlation of sequences. Microfacies do not correlate well with porosity and permeability. Therefore, in order to characterise reservoir properties of the carbonate-sand shoal it is necessary to integrate rock fabric and pore type. The cyclic framework outlined in this outcrop analogue provides a predictive tool for subsurface reservoir characterisation. The stratigraphic sequences correspond to fluid-flow units showing the thickest (up to 2m) and best reservoir qualities ( up to 20%, k up to 53md) towards the overall regressive maximum.