WTN: Müller-Catoir Haarter Herzog Riesling Spl 96

I should have bought more Müller Catoir. I should have bought more 96. I should have bought more of this wine! Absolutely yummy stuff. The 10% alc do not make this heavy at all. The acidity is there, of course, but so refreshing and lively, making the wine appear very young although aromatically I would say it is fully developed into adulthood. Like a fit mountain climber in his/her prime. I drank this way too fast. The last drops had me meditating over the aromas. beautifully pure fruit, somwhere between yellow plum and cherries maybe? I just wish I had another bottle...

Peter

[David M. Bueker]

I still have several bottles of this. After a very grumpy adolescence it is finally fulfilling the promise it had on release.

I still have several bottles of this. After a very grumpy adolescence it is finally fulfilling the promise it had on release.

Lucky you. I had a botle about a year ago, which was very good, but this was even better.

Peter

I should have bought more Müller Catoir.

I don't know too many Riesling-heads who would disagree. I cannot get enough of those wines - particularly the ones made by Hans Gunter Schwarz - they are some of the most thrilling and vibrant wines I've ever tasted. (Just regret that by the time I got into Riesling, most of the older Schwarz wines were off the market entirely.)

[- particularly the ones made by Hans Gunter Schwarz - they are some of the most thrilling and vibrant wines I've ever tasted.

Absolutely agree. And those who claimed that tey only taste good while young are obviously wrong. As usual, it depends. I think the Rieslaners do not really gain from ageing (but they don't fall apart either). But Rieslings like this one are as ageworthy as any.

Peter

[David M. Bueker]

I think the Rieslaners do not really gain from ageing (but they don't fall apart either).

I've had some amazing, older Catoir Rieslaners that were a completely different beast from release. Now I don't think the Scheurebe improve - just hold at a very high level.

the 1990 mussbacher eselhaut riesling auslese aged into something quite lovely - I think we drank a bottle together once here, David.

I've loved muller-catoir wines since the 1990 vintage and buy and drink them all the time - in particular, the auslesen give you dessert-level german wine for a greatly reduced price. The 1998s and 2001s are particularly yummy wines.

[David M. Bueker]

The 1990 Catoir Mussbacher Eselhaut Rieslaner Auslese was one of my seminal German wine experiences back in about 1996. I've had it several times since then (including with Maureen), and it's one of my all time favorites from Catoir and Germany overall.