All wines over $25 per bottle will be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
About This Wine
The one litre-bottled Gutswein 2016 is a blend of Riesling (at least 85%), with lesser amounts of Rieslaner, Scheurebe and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and comes entirely from the 2016 harvest. You won't find the vintage on the bottle as a Gutswein classification doesn't allow for such trifling matters. As always, this is a lot of fun and pleasure and a cracking value. Even at this level the fruit is hand harvested, mainly from the Estate’s valley floor holdings. This is a lightning-bolt of racy, pithy freshness although in 2016 there’s also plenty of silky texture and depth to balance out the ‘zing’. Nonetheless, liquid invigoration is the name of the game with this wonderful dinner party option. As you might expect, it’s magic with shellfish and oysters.
| Type | White Wine |
|---|---|
| Varietal(s) | Riesling Rieslaner Scheurebe |
| Country | Germany |
| Region | Pfalz |
| Brand | Müller-Catoir |
| Vintage | 2016 |
About German Wines
Germany is the world’s northernmost fine wine producing region and thus requires its vines to endure some of the coldest temperatures. Fortunately, the country’s star variety, Riesling, does well in cooler climates and can survive even these freezing winters.
Germany Riesling is classified by ripeness at harvest which is also used to indicate the wine’s level of residual sugar. Picking earlier means the grapes have less time to ripen and the corresponding wines will be on the drier side; while picking later gives the grapes the opportunity full ripen and produce a lusciously sweet Riesling. The classifications from driest to sweetest: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein (ice wine). While not as common to age white wines outside of Chardonnay, top tier German Rieslings can be aged for decades.
Other notable white grape varieties produced in Germany include Müller-Thurgau (a cross between Riesling and Madelaine Royale in the search for varieties that could withstand the extreme temperatures), Grauburguner (Pinot Gris) and Weissburguner (Pinot Blanc). The cooler German climate leads to earlier harvesting in general and gives German wines a distinctive character of higher acidity.
Historically red wine has always been harder to produce in the German climate. However, Pinot Noir grown in slightly warmer pockets of the country, has been highly successful in recent times. Going by the German name, Spätburgunder, German Pinot Noir can be elegant, structured and have vibrant acidity.