Egon Müller zu Scharzhof - Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese 2021

The Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese 2021 is more than just a wine - it is a legend in bottle form that is already being celebrated by experts as a "modern-day classic in the making" This report takes you through all the facets of this extraordinary wine, from its historic location on the Saar to its almost infinite ageing potential.

🏛️ Winery and terroir: the cradle of a legend

The Egon Müller winery on the Saar looks back on a long and honourable history that is closely linked to the famous Scharzhofberg vineyard.

• Historical heritage: The roots of the winery date back to 1797, when Jean-Jacques Koch acquired the Scharzhof. Through marriage, the estate came into the possession of the Müller family, who still run it today as one of the most renowned wineries in Germany. The Scharzhofberg itself is a historic site whose origins date back to the Romans and a medieval monastery .

• The terroir: The centrepiece of the estate is the Scharzhofberg, a south-facing steep-slope Grand Cru that is often described as one of the best Riesling terroirs in the world. The weathered grey slate soil is the key to the mineral finesse of the wines, retaining heat and giving the Rieslings their unmistakable salty, crystalline flavour .

• The philosophy: Under the management of Egon Müller IV, a traditional, minimalist philosophy is pursued. The quality is produced exclusively in the vineyard. This includes old vines (some from the 19th century, ungrafted), strict yield reduction and gentle vinification with natural yeasts in traditional 1000-litre barrels .

🍇 Winemaking: the art of noble sweetness

The 2021 Auslese is a prime example of the fine art of Prädikat winemaking.

• Harvest and selection: Only fully ripe, hand-picked grapes, which are often affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), are used for an Auslese . This noble rot concentrates the flavours and sugar in the berries and is the foundation for the later complexity and sweetness of the wine .

• Vinification: After gentle pressing, the must ferments in traditional stainless steel tanks to preserve the purity and fruit flavours. The wine then matures for several months on the fine lees, which gives it additional creaminess and depth before it is bottled .

👃👅 Tasting notes and critics' comments

The Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese 2021 is a wine that is still at a very young stage and will only reveal its full splendour with time and plenty of air.

• Nose: Restrained and reductive in its youth, it reveals a beguilingly clear nose after a few minutes in the glass. Aromas of fresh orchard fruit, nashi pear, white peach and apricot mingle with exotic hints of pineapple and mango. These are joined by floral notes of cherry blossom as well as the herbal and spicy notes typical of the Scharzhofberg and an unmistakable slate minerality .

• Palate: On the palate, the wine is creamy and dense, with an impressive balance between the lusciously sweet fruit and an almost electrifying, ripe acidity. This tension gives the wine incredible vibrancy and precision. The finish is long, full of finesse and characterised by a salty, crystalline minerality .

• Critics' ratings: The experts are unanimous: this vintage is something special.

  • Mosel Fine Wines rates the wine with the highest score of 100 pointsand writes: "The combination of intensity, precision and an absolutely tangy, fruity balance is simply stunning. This is clearly a modern classic in the making" .

  • Stuart Pigott (JamesSuckling.com) awards between 96 and 98 points and praises the "breathtakingly vibrant acidity", the "crystalline clarity" and the "enormous length" of the wine .

💰 Prices and availability

The demand for this cult wine far exceeds the supply, which is reflected in the prices and difficult availability.

• Price range: The wine is almost exclusively available in 0.375 litre half bottles, with prices varying considerably depending on the retailer and market situation and currently ranging from around USD 360 to over USD 990 per half bottle .

• Availability: The wine is extremely difficult to find. Most retailers only stock it on pre-order ("pre-arrival") or have already sold it out. Interested parties often have to expect waiting times .

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⏳ Ageing potential and serving recommendation

This wine is designed to last forever. One critic describes it as a "sleeping giant" that can easily age for 20, 30 or even over 50 years. The recommended drinking window often does not begin until 2036 . It should be served at a temperature of 8-10°C, preferably in a fine white wine glass .

Thanks to its balance between sweetness, acidity and fullness, it is a versatile food companion. It goes perfectly with Asian dishes, asparagus dishes, fish with fruity sauces or as a crowning finale to fruit desserts.

📌 Conclusion

The Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese 2021 is an exceptional wine that has the potential to follow in the footsteps of legendary vintages such as the 1921 . It combines the pure fruit intensity of the vintage with the timeless elegance and mineral finesse of the Scharzhofberg vineyard. An expensive, rare, but ultimately unrivalled masterpiece for patient collectors and lovers of great wines.