Müller-Catoir Gimmeldinger Schlössel Rieslaner Trockenbeerenauslese 375ml 2008

Müller-Catoir Gimmeldinger Schlössel Rieslaner Trockenbeerenauslese is a botrytis sweet wine from a rare Sylvaner-Riesling crossing, bottled at 400 grams of residual sugar.

Rieslaner was bred in 1921 from Sylvaner and Riesling, and although little planted it matters a great deal at this Pfalz estate. Hans-Günter Schwarz, the cellar master here from 1962 to 2002, brought the variety to Müller-Catoir and planted it in the Herzog vineyard at Haardt, where he made a series of sweet wines that are now almost impossible to find; Martin Franzen has continued the line since 2003. Rieslaner's tendency to botrytis, even in dry years, while holding very high acidity, makes it the estate's most reliable variety for sweet wine. On the strength of the Herzog results, mass-selection cuttings were used to plant Gimmeldinger Schlössel, a site on poor sandstone at the foot of the Haardt mountains, and the wines from it have been every bit as good. This is a released back vintage, at 6% alcohol with 19 g/L acidity and 400 g/L residual sugar.

A wine for very small glasses and long keeping, decades if you like; try it with blue cheese, a fruit tart or simply on its own. Serve at 8–10°C.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.