WTN: One of the most exquisite Mosels I've had

Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Auslese #190 2001
8% abv. This is a producer I am particularly fond of, but even so this seems like an uncommonly exquisite wine. A lovely honeyed Rieslingness and a bit of nice, refreshing greenness (I'm trying to reclaim this word to mean something positive because it really is a lovely smell and there's really no other word to describe it!). There is much of everything: much fruit, much sugar, much acidity - so the balance is impeccable but the overall impression is that of a very rich wine. Absolutely fantastic. No hurry.

[David M. Bueker]

Thank you Otto. I have some of these. Am now salivating in anticipation of opening one.

Sounds great. When drinking Grunhaus I often call it 'verdant' as a more positive way of saying 'green', but it amounts to the same thing. Deliciousness.

Ooh! I've always loved this estate's wines. Especially the Abstburg. I only wish I were fortunate enough to own some of this treasure.

-Paul W.

Well, I'm fortunate enough to have a couple, but they're half-bottles. Better 375s than none at all!

[David M. Bueker]

Premier Cru blowout sale Dale? That's how I picked up mine and some of the 2001 Herrenberg fuder numbered auslese.

You cannot buy Grünhaus blind, but you do sometimes hit the jackpot with the numbered Ausleses! Congrats!

Greetings from Sweden / Fredrik L

[David M. Bueker]

You cannot buy Grünhaus blind, but you do sometimes hit the jackpot with the numbered Ausleses!

really? really?

Other than a few tough vintages in the late '90s/early '00s (and only '00 had little worthwhile) from which they seem to have rebounded I don't agree with your assessment at all. Grunhaus kabinett and spatlese are some of the great joys of wine to my taste. I only wish they were more readily available.

I find those bland, but as you know I do not care for Dönnhoff either. (With rare exceptions.)

Greetings from Sweden / Fredrik L

I find those bland, but as you know I do not care for Dönnhoff either. (With rare exceptions.)

I can sort of see finding kabinett and spatlese Grunhaus 'bland' (although I disagree) but then that would lead me to think that you like fleshier more obvious fruit, which is certainly Donnhoff's style.

You cannot buy Grünhaus blind, but you do sometimes hit the jackpot with the numbered Ausleses!

really? really?

Other than a few tough vintages in the late '90s/early '00s (and only '00 had little worthwhile) from which they seem to have rebounded I don't agree with your assessment at all. Grunhaus kabinett and spatlese are some of the great joys of wine to my taste. I only wish they were more readily available.

Indeed!

I remember it being said that the former cellar-master was past his best at that time and I think the Gault/Millau guide downgraded the estate. The last time I opened a 2001 Spätlese some 4-5 years ago it was still very sulphurous. The person through whom I acquired some vintages (others directly at the estate) even got von Schubert to agree to take back some bottles which he considered sub-standard; I can't remember if they were 2001 or 2 but I think they were Auslesen.

With that exception (and I probably opened it too young), I've never been disappointed by a Grünhaus and I have an affection at many estates for "off" vintages and "down" periods, the extent of which often tends to be much exaggerated.

[David M. Bueker]

TIm,

I have been opening some lower level 2001s from Grunhaus, and they have started to emerge from their early funk.Otto's note is just further fuel to the fire about the underlying quality of the wines.

Delicious as it was yesterday, I managed to save a good sized glass for tonight. It has no excessive sulphur and no signs of coming from a weak period. Though perhaps I don't have enough experience with the producer. From what I've tasted of the producer, it's a bit like Musar in that I will never have enough experience with them, not even if I had a dozen livers to spare.