Maximin Grunhaus Riesling 2007
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One of the earliest bud breaks ever recorded at Grünhaus and spring temperatures like in midsummerpushed the Riesling vines to an early flowering end of May. During the summer there was the ideal mixof sunshine and rain which guaranteed an uninterrupted growth. Harvest started on October 8th and as aresult of intensive hand labour the estate had very healthy grapes. After a natural sedimentation of themusts the fermentation started with the estate's own natural yeasts. The Riesling wines of 2007 showrefined exotic fruit flavours with subtle elegance and finesse which result from an exceptional long timeof the grapes being on the vines.
The Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region is known for the finest Riesling wines in the world. The Mosel yields thesoftest, broadest and fullest wines, the Saar the steeliest and most austere, the Ruwer the most fragrant,with a fine fruity acidity.
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Aromas of slate and citrus yield to savory lime and peach notes on the palate. This turns compact on the finish, so give it time to integrate. A tinge of licorice fills the aftertaste. Best from 2010 through 2020. 3,000 cases made.
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Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
Following the Mosel River as it slithers and weaves dramatically through the Eifel Mountains in Germany’s far west, the Mosel wine region is considered by many as the source of the world’s finest and longest-lived Rieslings.
Mosel’s unique and unsurpassed combination of geography, geology and climate all combine together to make this true. Many of the Mosel’s best vineyard sites are on the steep south or southwest facing slopes, where vines receive up to ten times more sunlight, a very desirable condition in this cold climate region. Given how many twists and turns the Mosel River makes, it is not had to find a vineyard with this exposure. In fact, the Mosel’s breathtakingly steep slopes of rocky, slate-based soils straddle the riverbanks along its entire length. These rocky slate soils, as well as the river, retain and reflect heat back to the vineyards, a phenomenon that aids in the complete ripening of its grapes.
Riesling is by far the most important and prestigious grape of the Mosel, grown on approximately 60% of the region’s vineyard land—typically on the desirable sites that provide the best combination of sunlight, soil type and altitude. The best Mosel Rieslings—dry or sweet—express marked acidity, low alcohol, great purity and intensity with aromas and flavors of wet slate, citrus and stone fruit. With age, the wine’s color will become more golden and pleasing aromas of honey, dried apricot and sometimes petrol develop.
Other varieties planted in the Mosel include Müller-Thurgau, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), all performing quite well here.