In This Newsletter:
Merkelbach Sale
Close-Out Featurette: Vin Santo
Merkelbach Sale
Close-Out Featurette: Vin Santo
“Merkelbach’s wines are like the world before anyone wrote poems about it.” –Terry Theise
Stock Up & Save On
Merkelbach
Stock Up & Save On
Merkelbach
We adore the wines of Weingut Alfred Merkelbach. They set the curve for the term “old-school,” having made their wines in similar style for almost 70 years. These wines capture the delicacy and etherealness of Riesling like few other wines we’ve tried. Terry Theise, when importing the wines for Skurnik, described their wines as “like VAPING Mosel Riesling.”
The tiny estate boasts mostly ancient (and sometimes ungrafted) vines grown on steep terraces along the Mosel River in Urzig and in Kinheim. When most of the Ürziger Würzgarten vineyards were replanted during the re-alignment of the vineyards, Merkelbach’s vines remained on original rootstock. Today, the vines average around 50 years of age, spring chickens next to the brothers that worked the estate for decades before passing it along to Johannes Selbach to manage in 2019.
The resulting wines are some of the most haunting expressions of the Mosel. They have a charm and an energy that’s unlike almost any other wine we’ve tasted. In fact, their closest comparison might not be in the Mosel at all, but rather with Jacky Truchot’s wines in Burgundy—another producer who managed to create unbearably delicate, ethereal wines that bottles sunshine and joy.
Enjoy the wines now, enjoy them years from now; these wines could well outlast us all.
The tiny estate boasts mostly ancient (and sometimes ungrafted) vines grown on steep terraces along the Mosel River in Urzig and in Kinheim. When most of the Ürziger Würzgarten vineyards were replanted during the re-alignment of the vineyards, Merkelbach’s vines remained on original rootstock. Today, the vines average around 50 years of age, spring chickens next to the brothers that worked the estate for decades before passing it along to Johannes Selbach to manage in 2019.
The resulting wines are some of the most haunting expressions of the Mosel. They have a charm and an energy that’s unlike almost any other wine we’ve tasted. In fact, their closest comparison might not be in the Mosel at all, but rather with Jacky Truchot’s wines in Burgundy—another producer who managed to create unbearably delicate, ethereal wines that bottles sunshine and joy.
Enjoy the wines now, enjoy them years from now; these wines could well outlast us all.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Thursday, February 6th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Thursday, February 6th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer sixteen in-stock Merkelbach options on sale now, including:
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 93 points “An elegant and finely-nuanced Mosel Kabinett with a wide spectrum of aromas that range from mandarin orange to pomegranate and wild strawberry. In spite of the juiciness on the front and mid-palate this is delicate and has a tantalizing spiciness at the long finish. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2022 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett offers a clear, bright and elegant, finely flinty bouquet of crushed and weathered rocks. On the palate, this is a mouth-filling, pure and saline, very elegant and balanced Würzgarten Kabinett with a long, saline and beautifully balanced finish. It’s a delicious Riesling that was bottled with 9% stated alcohol and a natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in November 2023.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spätlese #3, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 31 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 92+ points “The 2018 Rosenberg Spätlese AP #3 from the Merkelbachs is a touch more mineral in personality and has just a bit more mid-palate stuffing than the AP #2 version, but without sacrificing any of the classic filigree of this Prädikat level. It is also the more reserved of the two bottlings in its youthful phase, offering up scents of apple, pear, a beautiful base of slate, incipient notes of bee pollen, violets and iris blossoms. On the palate the wine is pure, medium-full and quite solid at the core, with lovely mineral undertow, zesty acids and fine focus and grip on the long and nascently complex finish. This is the Rosenberg Spätlese from 2018 that is going to demand a bit of bottle age before it starts to blossom, so the AP #2 is by far the better selection for those who are predisposed to want to drink their Merkelbach Spätlese on the early side. But, this wine will age superbly. 2024-2055+. 92+.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spätlese #7, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 93+ points “The AP #7 Würzgarten Spätlese from the Merkelbachs is also utterly classical in personality, but with more spice tones on both the nose and palate and an almost crystalline expression of the vintage that is utterly captivating. The superb bouquet wafts from the glass in a mix of lime, strawberries, kaleidoscopic slate minerality, bee pollen, a whisper of petrol, citrus zest and a topnote of fruit blossoms. On the palate the wine is vibrant, medium-full and slightly broader shouldered than the AP #5 version, with a great core of fruit, marvelous mineral drive and grip, zesty acids and a long, complex and perfectly balanced finish. This too is a marvelous interpretation of the Würzgarten, with perhaps a touch more depth than the AP #5, but not quite as filigreed in profile at the present time. Maybe- just maybe, this will ultimately nose out the AP #5 Spätlese with extended bottle age, but both wines are going to age beautifully and it is really hard to pick a favorite among them. They are differently style, quintessential expressions of Würzgarten Spätlese. 2023-2055+. 93+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $46.74
The next best price is $46.74
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $38, that’s $36.10 at 5% off and $34.20 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Here’s a succulent riesling Spatlese with tons of wild strawberry and nectarine. And beneath this rather extrovert exterior is a serious structure and excellent mineral freshness. At the long finish this side of the wine becomes ever stronger. It would be easy to underestimate the aging potential of this wine due to the generous upfront fruit. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese #9, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 28 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 93+ points “The 2018 Auslese AP #9 from the Würzgarten vineyard is another tour de force from the Merkelbachs. It offers up a magical aromatic constellation of pear, white grape, strawberries, a lovely foundation of red slate and a potpourri of floral tones redolent of violets, lilacs and orange blossoms. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish and gently glazed, with very clean botrytis, a lovely core, bright acids and a long, complex and still quite youthful finish. This is a touch more botrytized and powerful in personality than the AP #10 version, and it will need a bit more time to really start to express itself, but it should be outstanding in due course. 2028-2065. 93+. “
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese #8, Mosel 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2019er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese AP 08 was harvested in the sector next to the Sonnenuhr. It offers a hugely attractive nose of vineyard peach, whipped almond cream, minty herbs, spices, William’s pear, and candied grapefruit. The wine is still on the sweet side on the palate, but its refined fruity and creamy side are superbly appealing. Add to this a great zest and a sense of purity side in the long and animating finish, and you have all the elements for a great playful Auslese in a decade and more. 2029-2059.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese #7 “Lang Pitcher”, Mosel 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese was harvested at 97° Oechsle. It displays a superbly aromatic, ripe and fruity nose of yellow peach, pineapple, honey, anise and smoke. The wine coats the rather intense palate with juicy yellow and honeyed fruits pepped up by a nice whiff of acidity. The finish is delicately smooth and long. This gorgeous “Auslese GK” in all but name only needs a decade to blossom. 2027-2047.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A light, zesty style, with jellied lemon, yellow apple and crème brûlée notes. Very refreshing and mouthwatering, featuring a lithe profile that makes this easy to drink now. Rose water and mineral aromas echo on the finish. Drink now through 2035.—A.Z”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese “Urglück”, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 94 points “The Urglück section of the Würzgarten is the Merkelbachs’ filet section, still planted with ungrafted old vines. The 2018 Urglück Auslese from Weingut Merkelbach is an utterly refined and effortless example of the vintage. The bouquet is the epitome of elegance, wafting from the glass in a blend of pear, apple, strawberry chiffon, bee pollen, lovely minerality, lime blossoms and hints of the honeycomb to come with bottle age. On the palate the wine is pure, bright and fullish, with lovely filigree and focus, a fine core, good mineral undertow and a long, nascently complex and simply superb finish. This is not flashy, but the one more pays attention to it, the further one is drawn into its bottomless sense of beauty. 2026-2065. 94.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese “Urglück”, Mosel 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94+ points “The 2023er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Urglück was made from clean grapes. It directly captivates one’s attention with refined and finely aromatic notes of tangerine, candied grapefruit, acacia, jasmine, violet, thyme, strawberry, and candied orange peel. The wine coats the palate with creamy and juicy fruity elements and almond paste and leaves a very precise and herbal feel of spices in the long and delineated finish. The residual sugar still needs to integrate, yet the finesse and precision are already showing the potential of this refined Auslese. 2033-2063.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Much like olive oil and wine production, dessert wine is one of the great “unifiers” of Italian culture, with examples seen from Sicily to the northern reaches of the Veneto. Traditionally sourced from local varietals, there are a number of techniques that have been developed over the centuries to make these wines.
Of particular interest are the Vin Santo wines of Tuscany. Most examples feature medium-to-high levels of residual sugar, with a medium of acidity and an incredibly full body that can be almost syrupy. The time needed to late harvest, dry the grapes, slowly press and ferment make these some of the most labor-intensive dessert wines in the entire world.
Could there be a more satisfying conclusion to a good meal than pouring a small glass of stickie to pair with dessert? Discover the simple and classic pleasure of poached local pears or biscotti served alongside a glass of vin santo.
These wines are surprisingly flexible in their ability to offer complex and unique pairings with a wide range of dishes and courses. Elevate an average Tuesday night meal or make a celebratory feast an experience. Stock up now while these two beauties are on our Close-Out Sale and revel in their magic for years to come.
In Stock and On Close-Out Sale Now:
Avignonesi Vin Santo di Montepulciano, Tuscany 2001 375ml Was $179, Now $169, 1 half-bottle in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2001 Vin Santo di Montepulciano (375 milliliters) is a divine and superbly delicious sweet blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia and Grechetto. The results are super concentrated and simmered down to a virtual reduction sauce of deliciousness. There are so many aromas to name, but some of the most evident highlights include candied orange peel, almond marzipan, caramel, toasted coffee bean, vanilla stick, mocha, dark honey and fragrant yellow rose. The mouthfeel is creamy, rich and deeply layered. I’m suggesting a slightly shorter drinking window here compared to the Occhio di Pernice. But, the truth is: I have no idea. I’m pretty sure these wines will outlive anyone of legal drinking age.”
Of particular interest are the Vin Santo wines of Tuscany. Most examples feature medium-to-high levels of residual sugar, with a medium of acidity and an incredibly full body that can be almost syrupy. The time needed to late harvest, dry the grapes, slowly press and ferment make these some of the most labor-intensive dessert wines in the entire world.
Could there be a more satisfying conclusion to a good meal than pouring a small glass of stickie to pair with dessert? Discover the simple and classic pleasure of poached local pears or biscotti served alongside a glass of vin santo.
These wines are surprisingly flexible in their ability to offer complex and unique pairings with a wide range of dishes and courses. Elevate an average Tuesday night meal or make a celebratory feast an experience. Stock up now while these two beauties are on our Close-Out Sale and revel in their magic for years to come.
In Stock and On Close-Out Sale Now:
Avignonesi Vin Santo di Montepulciano, Tuscany 2001 375ml Was $179, Now $169, 1 half-bottle in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2001 Vin Santo di Montepulciano (375 milliliters) is a divine and superbly delicious sweet blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia and Grechetto. The results are super concentrated and simmered down to a virtual reduction sauce of deliciousness. There are so many aromas to name, but some of the most evident highlights include candied orange peel, almond marzipan, caramel, toasted coffee bean, vanilla stick, mocha, dark honey and fragrant yellow rose. The mouthfeel is creamy, rich and deeply layered. I’m suggesting a slightly shorter drinking window here compared to the Occhio di Pernice. But, the truth is: I have no idea. I’m pretty sure these wines will outlive anyone of legal drinking age.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $229.90
The next best price is $229.90
Rocca di Montegrossi Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2009 375ml Was $89, Now $79, 22 half-bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2009 Vin Santo is a rich, exotic wine, as it always is. Readers will find one of the richest most intense Vin Santos being made today. Plush, tropical and ample in feel, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vin Santo is bold and racy to the core. The 350 grams of residual sugar leave the wine with tremendous textural plushness.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We offer 173 wines on our Close-Out Sale in stock now.
Shop the sale on our webstore now!
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Huet & Foreau
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Huet & Foreau
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Huet & Foreau
Alzinger
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Alzinger
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Alzinger
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Huet & Foreau sale ends Tuesday, February 4th at 9 am Pacific. Alzinger sale ends Wednesday, February 5th at 9 am Pacific.