Maximin Grünhaus Single Vineyard Abtsberg Grosse Lage Mosel Riesling Spatlese 2022
Maximin Grünhaus Single Vineyard Abtsberg Grosse Lage Mosel Riesling Spatlese
Region: Mosel, Germany
Vintage: 2022
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Riesling
ABV: 7.5%
This late-harvest Riesling is complex on the nose, showing green spring meadow, candied citrus fruit and green apple aromas, combined with subtle smoky notes of flint and nutty hints. The rich palate is vibrantly juicy and zesty, brought into balance by a lingering minerality and lifted acidity on the finish.
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.
The grapes are closely monitored and picked by hand in several stages to capture the right ripeness level for the Spätlese (‘later harvested’) style. This results in a richer style of Riesling than the Kabinett, with increased concentration in aromas and flavours. The cellar is situated minutes from the vineyards to ensure quick pressing in a pneumatic press after harvest to retain the grapes’ aromatics, freshness and complexity. After pressing, the must was fermented with indigenous yeasts in Fuders, classic Mosel 1,000 litre oak casks made from wood from the estate’s own forest by local coopers. Fermentation was stopped by chilling to produce a wine with a natural residual sweetness.
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.