Maximin Grunhaus Single Vineyard Abtsberg Grosse Lage Mosel Riesling Kabinett 2023
Maximin Grünhaus Single Vineyard Abtsberg Grosse Lage Mosel Riesling Kabinett
Region: Mosel, Germany
Vintage: 2023
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Riesling
ABV: 7.5%
This Kabinett displays aromas of apricot, mango and passion fruit, with playful blossom characters and yeasty notes. The palate is refreshingly fruity and elegant with a racy acidity and vibrant peach, kumquat and orange zest and flavours.
The Abtsberg vineyard is classified as a VDP.Grosse Lage, designating it as one of the best in Germany which produce wines particularly expressive of their site and with exceptional ageing potential. The Abtsberg is the most famous and steepest vineyard of the estate, grown on soils composed of blue Devonian slate. The hillside runs south-east to south-west, achieving a gradient of up to 70% which requires laborious hand harvesting. The Abtsberg is located directly outside the castle Maximin Grünhaus and wines harvested from this vineyard are among the longest-lived Rieslings of the region.
Made in the Kabinett style, the fruit for this wine is harvested earlier in the season compared to the Spätlese to create a lighter and more delicate style of Riesling. The grapes were harvested by hand in several stages to capture the right ripeness levels across the vintage. The proximity of the vineyard to the cellar ensured a quick pressing in a pneumatic press after harvest to retain the aromatics, freshness and complexity in the resulting wine. The must was then fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless-steel tanks. Fermentation was stopped by chilling, leaving natural residual sugar in the wine typical of this style of Riesling.
Located on steep, south-facing slopes two kilometres from where the river Ruwer meets the Mosel, the estate of Maximin Grünhaus has a history of viticulture that dates back to Roman times. It takes its name from the Abbey of Saint Maximin, a Benedictine monastery which owned the land from the 7th to the 18th century. Passing into French administration under Napoleon and then eventually to the von Schubert family in the late 19th century, the estate is now overseen by sixth-generation family member Maximin Von Schubert, who took over from his father Carl Von Schubert in 2014.