Königlich Preuss. Domänenkellerei - Marcobrunner Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Cabinet 1909

The Royal Prussian Estate Winery – Marcobrunner Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Cabinet 1909 is an exceptionally rare German white wine, considered one of the most prized rarities of the Rheingau.

Here is a detailed report on this legendary wine:

1. Basic information & condition

2. Origin & Historical Background

The wine originates from the Royal Prussian Estate Winery, one of the most prestigious wine-growing estates of its time. These estates were founded by Prussia in the early 20th century to promote and professionalise viticulture. The most famous and largest of these estates was Eberbach Abbey, which was renamed the ‘Hessian State Wineries of Eberbach Abbey’ after the First World War. Wines from this era bearing the ‘Cabinet’ classification are particularly highly prized and are regarded as the finest selections of their time.

The grapes come from the famous Marcobrunnvineyard . This Grand Cru vineyard in the Rheingau has been known since the 13th century and is famous for its deep, calcareous and clayey marl soils, which lend the Riesling a special finesse and depth.

3. The significance of the designations

The name of this wine already hints at its exceptional quality:

• Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA): This is the highest classification under German wine law. For a TBA, the grapes are individually selected by hand when they are affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) and have dried into berry-like raisins (Trockenbeeren). This results in an extremely high must density (at least 150 degrees Oechsle) and, consequently, an intensely sweet and concentrated wine.

• Cabinet: The historic term ‘Cabinet’ was used for the very best wines of a vintage, which were kept in the personal ‘cabinet’ of the prince or king. It is a kind of precursor to today’s ‘Große Gewächse’.

4. Rarity and Availability

This wine is an absolute rarity. There are now only a handful of bottles left worldwide. It is not available through regular retail channels, but only occasionally appears at exclusive auctions or through specialist rarity dealers. A similar wine from the same vintage, listed as 1909 STAATSWEINGÜTER KLOSTER EBERBACH (Royal Prussian Domainen-Kellerei) Erbach Marcobrunn, Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, is even being offered for $10,000.00. This price difference illustrates the extreme price range that is possible for such rarities, depending on their condition, provenance and the retailer.

5. Conclusion

The Royal Prussian Domains Winery – Marcobrunn Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Cabinet 1909 is far more than just an old wine. It is a living piece of German wine history, a testament to the craftsmanship of the winemakers in the Rheingau over 100 years ago. Its rarity, its origin from one of the finest vineyards and its exceptional quality classification make it a Holy Grail for collectors and connoisseurs. Such a wine offers not only a unique tasting experience, but also a deep insight into the great tradition of German Riesling viticulture.