EGON MÜLLER SCHARZHOFBERGER RIESLING KABINETT 2017

Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett 2017

“The 2017 Scharzhofberger Kabinett (AP #2) is almost austere on the bright and herbal-mineral, quite coolish and concentrated nose that’s somewhat phenolic. Round and lush on the first palate, it offers a concentrated fruit core and crystalline acidity intermingled with slate flavors. This is a pure and filigreed yet tightly woven Kabinett that’s only discreetly sweet and has a quite substantial, somewhat drying or astringent finish. Is that cork or just austere? A second bottle from the rare leftovers fetched by Veronika Lindner was clearer and much finer and without irritating astringency.” – 91+/100, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

VARIETIES: 100% Riesling, QmP
REGION: Germany / Wiltingen / Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
AGEING: –
GUARDING POTENTIAL: 25 years ±
SERVE: Serve at 6 – 8ºC
FITS TO: Kabinett works well with seafood, Asian, Thai, Sushi, Veggies, Garlic and Lighter Poultry or Pork Entrees
CRITICS SCORES: 91+/RP, 93/JS
VIVINO: Average 4.5 ★★★★✰

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Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett | Range | Egon Müller

Only our two Prädikat wines from the Scharzhofberg and the Wiltinger braune Kupp bear the site designation visibly emblazoned on the label. For the classification of our wines into the different Prädikat levels, we would like to state very clearly and self-confidently that for us – the legal classification according to the must weight or sugar content at harvest has never been decisive for us. The characteristic feature of our Kabinett wines is that the grapes reach the desired ripeness but have not yet reached the stage of over-ripeness. This criteria alone counts for our two popular Kabinets.

These wines are so unique because the grapes can fully ripen in the cool and unique climate of the Saar, although they have a comparatively low sugar content. In a late ripening vintage, such as 1987, the grapes reach their full physiological ripeness at about 70° Oechsle; in years with hot summers, such as 2003, which was one of the most significant examples, a must weight of up to 95° Oechsle may be found.   This shows that we in the Saar are writing our own history in terms of physiological ripeness.

Also important: our Kabinett wines usually have an alcohol content of only 7° to 10°  alcohol per liter of wine. They are therefore ideal food companions, especially at lunchtime. The taste of the mineral-intensive slate rock and the fine-grained acidity typical of the Saar dominate the elegantly intense fruit of the Riesling grapes without suppressing it and taking away its impact.

Analytically, our two Kabinett wines are always fruit-sweet wines. However, due to their low alcohol content, they sometimes taste surprisingly dry, depending on the vintage.

Our Kabinet wines are fresh and lively when young, but can age elegantly for ten or more years. Especially the Kabinet wines from the Scharzhofberg develop an enormous complexity in correct storage conditions, which surprises us again and again. And this despite the fact that every year we believe that the Scharzhofberg and its grapes can no longer surprise us. Far from it.