Egon Muller : Riesling Scharzhof 2022

Lively and subtle nose of ripe yellow apple, white peach and wild flowers. Juicy and elegant with a vibrant acidity that lights this up beautifully. A touch of perceptible grape sweetness at the front of the medium-bodied palate, but the long, wet stone finish is admirably dry. Spot on balance. Drink or hold.

The 2022 Riesling Scharzhof was harvested in Saarburg, Wiltingen and Oberemmel and fermented spontaneously, half in stainless steel, half in Fuder. The nose has subtle yeast notes but comes across as very fresh, with hints of green apple and lemon and a slightly flinty flicker. The palate is exquisitely light and gently sweet. Herbal notions like yarrow and tansy join in with the lemon and the juicy, tart apple fruit. Much length with this weightlessness. (Off-dry)

What can be thought of as the entry level wine of the estate from a mix of sites, the 2022 Riesling Scharzhof is light gold-hued and has a killer bouquet of green citrus, lychee, honeyed mint, and a beautiful slate-like minerality. This flows to a medium-bodied Riesling with nicely integrated sweetness, balancing acidity, a pure, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. There's a sunny, supple roundness to this beauty that makes it so appealing today, yet I wouldn't be surprised to see this drinking nicely in 15-20 years. I certainly wouldn't be able to keep my hands off bottles for that long, though.