Egon Müller ‘Scharzhof’ Riesling 2016

Super-fresh, wild herbal and berry nose. Very pure and racy with a lot of drive. Tastes drier and lighter than the 2015, but this is another classic example of the house style. Drink any time during the next five years.

Penetrating aromas and bright juiciness of apple and lemon are reinforced in their invigorating effect by the pungency and bite of raw ginger as well as a nettle-like prickle. An impression of wet stone also runs from the nose through the polished, delicate but concentrated midpalate. A luscious infusion of fresh apricot and a saliva-liberating lacing of mineral salts add appeal to an animating finish and render the next sip irresistible. I cant recall having tasted a more impressive Scharzhof bottling, a fact that might well be directly related to the major crop losses suffered this year in Saarburg (and to a lesser extent Wiltingen), whence this cuve is sourced. But as Veronika Lintner points out, some of this wines delightful sense of levity can be laid at the door of lower must weights, offering yet another example of how, inexplicably, crop loss this year to peronospora seldom resulted in prematurely elevated Oechsle. I wouldnt hesitate to cellar some of this.