Le Gallais 'Egon Müller zu Scharzhof' – Wiltinger braune Kupp Riesling Spätlese 1996

Le Gallais ‘Egon Müller zu Scharzhof’ – Wiltinger Braune Kupp Riesling Spätlese 1996

The 1996 Wiltinger braune Kupp Riesling Spätlese from Le Gallais, which has been under the management of Egon Müller since 1954, is an exceptional wine from one of the most distinctive single vineyards in the Saar. The Le Gallais estate originally belonged to the Metz family, the founders of Arbed, and was acquired by Egon Müller III in 1954, bringing 2.5 hectares in the ‘Wiltinger Kupp’ and ‘Wiltinger braune Kupp’ vineyards under family ownership . Since then, the wines from this historic plot have borne the name Le Gallais and are vinified in the Scharzhofer cellar .

The ‘Wiltinger braune Kupp’vineyard differs from the famous Scharzhofberg in several respects. It lies directly on the River Saar and benefits from a warmer microclimate, as the river helps regulate the temperature and reflects the sun’s rays . The south-facing steep slope, at an altitude of 145 to 260 metres with gradients of 10 to 75 per cent and blue slate soil, lends the wines a distinctive mineral character .

The 1996 vintage in the Saar region was characterised by a damp summer, which produced mineral-driven wines . After more than two decades of ageing, the Spätlese from Le Gallais displays a fascinating profile. In 2007, *Falstaff* awarded the wine 92 points and described it as follows: Medium greenish-yellow in colour, with aromas of orange peel, delicate vegetal nuances and distinct petrol notes. On the palate, a brilliant, finely chiselled acidity, racy and with an elegant texture – rather light-bodied and slender right through to the finish, a delicate wine with juicy fruit on the finish.

These tasting notes describe a wine that embodies the classic Saar Riesling style in its most accomplished form: delicate, mineral and with precise acidity that lends it remarkable freshness despite its maturity. The petrol notes are a typical hallmark of mature Riesling and blend harmoniously into the complex aromatic profile.

Le Gallais’s wines have regularly fetched high prices at the annual Grosser Ring auctions and are now regarded as sought-after rarities . The 1996 Spätlese was auctioned at Christie’s, amongst other venues, and is a highly coveted collector’s item . For lovers of great Saar Rieslings, this wine offers a rare opportunity to experience an authentic piece of German wine history at its peak of maturity – a testament to the exceptional quality that the Egon Müller estate has been producing for generations.