The iconic bottles that define Mosel: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.
The iconic bottles that define Mosel: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.
Botrytis-laced Scharzhofberg Auslese of extraordinary concentration and near-immortal cellar life, among the world's great sweet wines.
Tasting notes: Botrytis-laced Scharzhofberg Auslese of extraordinary concentration and near-immortal cellar life. Wine Advocate 97 points (2018 vintage, reviewed 2020). Source: egon-mueller.de.
An intensely botrytised Scharzhofberg Trockenbeerenauslese of liqueur-like concentration, one of the rarest and most expensive white wines made.
Tasting notes: An intensely botrytised Scharzhofberg TBA of liqueur-like concentration, regularly the most expensive young white wine in the world. Source: egon-mueller.de.
A profound fruity-style Spatlese from the Wehlener Sonnenuhr that ages for decades into honeyed complexity.
Tasting notes: The archetypal J.J. Prum fruity-style Spatlese from the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, famously reductive young and ageing for decades into honeyed complexity. Wine Advocate 94 points (2019, reviewed 2021). Source: vdp.de.
The flagship dry Grosses Gewachs from the steep Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr, crystalline and intensely mineral.
Tasting notes: The flagship dry Grosses Gewachs from the steep Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr, crystalline and intensely mineral. Wine Advocate 93 points (2020, reviewed 2022). Source: weingut-fritz-haag.de.
The flagship dry Grosses Gewachs from the Saarburger Rausch, taut and deeply mineral with great racy length.
Tasting notes: The flagship dry Grosses Gewachs from the Saarburger Rausch, with dried pear, candied lemon and orange blossom over smoky reduction and razor-sharp precision. Source: zilliken-vdp.de.
The flagship dry Grosses Gewachs from the Abtsberg monopole, finely structured with refined terroir aroma.
Tasting notes: The flagship dry Grosses Gewachs from the Abtsberg monopole, finely structured with refined terroir aroma and delicate fruit. Wine Advocate 94 points (2020, reviewed 2022). Source: maximingruenhaus.de.
A dry Grosses Gewachs from the blue-slate Falkenlay parcel of the Marienburg, deep, spicy and densely mineral.
Tasting notes: A dry Grosses Gewachs from the blue-slate Falkenlay parcel of the Marienburg, deep, spicy and densely mineral, farmed biodynamically. Wine Advocate 93 points (2020, reviewed 2022). Source: clemens-busch.de.
A concentrated dry Grosses Gewachs from the Scharzhofberg with dark spice, ripe citrus and firm slaty minerality.
Tasting notes: A concentrated dry Grosses Gewachs from the Scharzhofberg, with dark spice, ripe citrus and firm slaty minerality. Wine Advocate 93 points (2017, reviewed 2018). Source: vanvolxem.com.
A dry Grosses Gewachs from the Laubach terraces of the Winninger Uhlen, with peach and citrus over cool, taut minerality.
Tasting notes: A dry Grosses Gewachs from the Laubach terraces of the Winninger Uhlen, with peach and citrus over cool, taut minerality. Wine Advocate 94 points (2018, reviewed 2020). Source: hl.wine.
Thomas Haag's home-vineyard dry Grosses Gewachs from the Lieserer Niederberg Helden, precise, taut and minerally.
Tasting notes: Thomas Haag's home-vineyard dry Grosses Gewachs from the Lieserer Niederberg Helden, precise, taut and minerally. Source: weingut-schloss-lieser.de.
Dry Grosses Gewachs Riesling from ungrafted old vines on the red slate of the Erdener Treppchen, made by Ernst Loosen.
Tasting notes: Dry Grosses Gewachs from ungrafted old vines on the red slate of the Erdener Treppchen, with peach, apricot and salty slate minerality. Wine Advocate 93 points (2019, reviewed 2021). Source: drloosen.de.
A cult Mosel Pinot Noir grown on Devonian slate in a low-yield Burgundian style, bright red-fruited with fine tannins.
Tasting notes: A cult Mosel Pinot Noir grown on Devonian slate in a low-yield Burgundian style, bright red-fruited with fine tannins. Falstaff 93 points (2019, reviewed 2022). Source: pinot-noix.com.
Peak wine-travel season in Mosel is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
If you only open one bottle, open Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese by egon-muller-scharzhof. It is the wine most associated with Mosel.