2001 Müller-Catoir Haardter Bürgergarten Riesling Spätlese- Germany, Pfalz (3/12/2019)
It’s all too easy to approach the final wines of Hans-Günter Schwarz career at Catoir with a sort of reverence. A bit of effort is required to clear the mind, and focus on what the wine has to give. This wine has a lot to give!
Purchased on release, and stored at a some what glacially cold temperature, the wine had barely moved into a light golden color. After thirty minutes of air the aromatics opened up, with a full plate of tropical fruits, and an light spice undertone. Only moderately sweet on the palate after eighteen years in the bottle (feinherb level perhaps), the palate maintained bright acidity, with a bit of finishing creaminess. I probably would have guess a 7-10 year old wine if I had been served this blind, and it looks like there are many more years ahead for well stored bottles. Riesling magic.
Hi David,
I had a bottle last May and from my less-glacial cellar “Bright acidity. Just a delicious wine.” It was well-matched with Chinese style soft-shell crab.
Even 10 years ago the sweetness was very moderate.
As for the Mandelring Scheurebe Spatlese, the 1998 was better than the 2001. Not by much, but it was better. While I bought several bottles of the 2001 (all gone now), I had cases of the 1998 (also all gone as of 2015). It was just sitting there on the shelf. Nobody wanted it, at least in my market.