2014MullerCatoirRieslaner2014 Weingut Muller-Catoir, Rieslaner Auslese, Herzog, Pfalz Germany.
First Rieslaner is not a cute pet or local name for Riesling, it is it’s own varietal, Rieslaner is a hybrid grape that was created in 1921 in Franconia Germany by crossing Silvaner and Riesling. It is thought that is was a way to make a grape that was better coping with botrytis, frost and was able to have a bit more acidity, which it seems to have done to near perfection, hat’s off to grape breeder August Ziegler, the man that created it in Veitshocheim all those years ago, and while it remains a very minor player in Germany it can make for an awesome wine, especially in the hands of Martin Franzen, who follows in the footsteps of the legendary Hans-Gunter Schwarz at Muller-Catoir. Grown at Herzog on sandstone, the Muller-Catoir Rieslaner is expressive and vigorous with honeyed melon, lime blossom and white currant/berry layers along with bright mineral, vinous thickness without heavy or cloying feel, this is gorgeous sweet wine with fine detail and elegance. The 2014 Muller-Catoir Rieslaner Herzog Auslese shows this grape in it’s best light and has wonderful depth, structure, vibrancy and haunting length, and while Muller-Catoir makes sublime Riesling, you should search them out for their Muskateller Trocken, Scheurebe and this Rieslaner too, these are some of the most intriguing wines in Germany. The 2014 Rieslaner Auslese stands out in this vintage and lingers on the palate with ginger, clove, tangerine sorbet and chalky salted honey, absolutely brilliant, drink over the next 20 years!
($45 Est. 375ml) 94+ Points, grapelive

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