WTN: 2009 Müller-Catoir Großes Gewächs

2009 Müller-Catoir Haardter Bürgergarten ‚Breumel in den Mauern‘ Riesling Großes Gewächs –Pfalz, Germany 13,0% alc.

The question that is often posed is whether or not the GG is a good value given the high quality of the normal Haardter Bürgergarten Spätlese Trocken. The Breumel is a beautiful little 2,6 ha Clos within the larger Bürgergarten. The sandstone soil gives tons of fruit, so even though the wines are vinified dry, they aren’t lacking for fruitiness. Peach, apricot, plum and the summer fragrances of elderberry flowers, chamomile, and the hayseed, strawiness of chestnut blossoms. Intensely aromatic and spicy with sappy, succulent fruit and tingly, ripe-fruit acidity. Though the Bürgergarten Spätlese is wonderful, the GG is more intense, voluminous, and Grand while remaining balanced. Superb.

Cheers,
Bill

[David M. Bueker]

Bill,

Since you have commented elsewhere regarding the reasonable value of Catoir wines in Germany, can you please quote the price? Thanks.

Bill,

Since you have commented elsewhere regarding the reasonable value of Catoir wines in Germany, can you please quote the price? Thanks.

24€.

Cheers,
Bill

[David M. Bueker]

Bill,

Since you have commented elsewhere regarding the reasonable value of Catoir wines in Germany, can you please quote the price? Thanks.

24€.

Cheers,
Bill

Wow. Yeah, I would buy it at that price. It's $60 here.

Bill,

Since you have commented elsewhere regarding the reasonable value of Catoir wines in Germany, can you please quote the price? Thanks.

24€.

Cheers,
Bill

Wow. Yeah, I would buy it at that price. It's $60 here.

It's a great deal even compared to other GG's (Rebholz, Dönnhoff @32€) AND a 3 Liter bottle is just over 100€!
If German wine is still the best deal going in the world of fine wines, it is downright cheap in the home-market.

Cheers,
Bill

[David M. Bueker]

If I drank a 3L of 2010 GG I would probably end up with a hole in my stomach!

Although when we're comparing purchasing power it's important to remember that even after adjusting for currency rates, most people in the US would have smaller take home salaries in Germany with the same profession. Which of course means less disposable income to spend on things like wine.

Of course there are other provisions (e.g. health care, schools, sane real estate prices) which may be better in Germany and give the person a higher standard of living despite the lower take home pay. In fact, one may even have more money at the end of the day to spend on wine, given that the same person in the US might spend much of their take home pay on things like medicine and schools. But, the American theoretically has more money if s/he chooses to forgo the expensive schooling and dump it all into GG.

Moral of the story: 24euros doesn't necessarily mean the same thing in Germany that it does to an American.

The question that is often posed is whether or not the GG is a good value given the high quality of the normal Haardter Bürgergarten Spätlese Trocken.

Wow, did I say that out loud? I thought I was just thinking it to myself!

wow, i'm way behind. i thought that grosses gewachs was for the rheingau. when did pfalz become involved or did i get it wrong from the start?

[David M. Bueker]

wow, i'm way behind. i thought that grosses gewachs was for the rheingau. when did pfalz become involved or did i get it wrong from the start?

Erstes Gewachs is just for the Rheingau. Everyone else uses Grosses Gewachs.