2021 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese, Mosel

This smells like the most beautiful white peach you can imagine; the kind of fruit that’s almost impossible to buy. Very pure and vibrant in spite of the lush fruit, the racy acidity giving this a stunning crystalline clarity and tremendous length. Made from 100% botrytized fruit. Limited production. Drink or hold.

96 points jamessuckling.com Aug 2022

Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese sits among the great wines of the world, not just great Rieslings. Scharzhofberg is the jewel of the Saar, a steep amphitheatre of blue grey slate above Wiltingen that has been celebrated since the 19th century. This is a vineyard that seems to generate its own energy, combining intensity, perfume and an almost supernatural sense of balance.

The Müller family has owned and farmed the heart of Scharzhofberg for generations, and Egon Müller IV is the custodian of one of wine’s most hallowed sites. His philosophy is rooted in patience and restraint. Old vines, meticulous hand harvesting and spontaneous fermentations are followed by a long, gentle élevage that allows the wine to evolve naturally. There is nothing flashy here, just absolute trust in place and tradition.

Auslese from Scharzhofberg is something truly special. The selection focuses on perfectly ripe berries, often with a touch of noble rot, bringing richness without ever tipping into heaviness. Aromatically the wine is breathtaking. Ripe peach, apricot, citrus oil and honey mingle with wild herbs, smoke and crushed slate. On the palate the sweetness is seamless, gliding across the tongue and carried by soaring Saar acidity. There is depth and concentration, yet the wine feels light on its feet, finishing long, cool and impossibly refined.

What makes Scharzhofberger Auslese so compelling is its combination of power and serenity. It has intensity without force, sweetness without weight and complexity without excess. At the table it is sublime with foie gras, roast poultry with fruit, blue cheeses or aromatic Asian dishes where its acidity and sweetness create perfect harmony.

Cellar potential is legendary. These wines routinely age for decades, evolving into something almost otherworldly, with layers of spice, dried citrus, savoury notes and that haunting petrol character that only the greatest Riesling achieves. Opening one young is thrilling. Opening one after twenty or forty years is unforgettable.

Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese is not just a wine to drink, it is a wine to remember. A benchmark, a reference point and a quiet masterpiece that defines what sweet Riesling can be.