“Should we all buy more Merkelbach? Yes, of course!” – Mosel Fine Wines
Stock Up & Save On
Merkelbach
Stock Up & Save On
Merkelbach
We adore the wines of Weingut Alfred Merkelbach, irrationally and perhaps more than any other grower in the Mosel. 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 themselves.
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.
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 themselves.
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.
5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
10% off any 12+ 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, April 10th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 12+ 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, April 10th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer sixteen in-stock Merkelbach options on sale now, including:
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 35 bottles in stock now
“The 2023er Riesling Trocken comes from fruit picked in the west-facing and higher parcel Zeltinger Himmelreich. It offers a superbly refined, elegant, and finely aromatic nose of whipped almond cream, vineyard peach, minty herbs, smoke, white flowers, and anise. The wine proves super light and airy on the finely juicy and delicately creamy palate. These creamy elements give way to a broader yet also more focused side. This very charming and attractive dry Riesling. 2025-2033.” -Mosel Fine Wines
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett #13, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 25 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2018er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett was harvested from old un-grafted vines at 90° Oechsle in the part of the vineyard situated above the cellar of the Merkelbachs, just behind the village, and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (50 g/l). It offers a hugely aromatic nose of white peach, apricot, floral elements and spices. The wine is beautifully balanced on the palate and leaves a long and refined feel of herbs in the finish. 2028-2048.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten 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.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spätlese #2, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 92 points “The 2018 AP #2 Spätlese from the Rosenberg vineyard has a beautiful touch of exotic fruit to its aromatic constellation, wafting from the glass in a very refined blend of kiwi, strawberry, lime zest, an almost salty expression of slate, apple blossoms and bee pollen. On the palate the wine is vibrant, complex, medium-full and filigreed, with a lovely dollop of fruit at the core, superb mineral drive and grip, zesty acids and a long, complex and beautifully balanced finish. This is such a classic example of middle Mosel Spätlese, with stunning interplay of slate minerality, pure, precise fruit and floral tones. Just lovely. 2020-2050+.”
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+.”
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten 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+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese #7, Mosel 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2019er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese AP 07 comes from the Urglück part of the vineyard. It offers a beautifully refined and flowery nose of whipped almond cream, spices, grapefruit, lime, and aniseed herbs. The wine proves delicately airy and driven by a quite zesty acidity on the palate, and leaves an intense, almost forceful feel of presence and tartness (the wine does have 9% of alcohol) in the spicy and almost razor-sharp finish. The after-taste feels already more off-dry than fruity-styled. This wine will prove superb, especially with food, in a couple of years. 2025-2034+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese #4, Mosel 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $33.50, that’s $31.83 at 5% off and $30.15 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “From the core of the Würzgarten, including the Urglück parcel whose fuder wasn’t fine enough to be bottled alone (also in 2021), the 2020 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese (AP 4 21) is pure and discreet on the well-concentrated yet still muted nose. Lush and round, this is a textured, fine and filigreed yet quite intense and well-concentrated Würzgarten with a tight and saline finish. Still young, this Würzgarten should benefit from further bottle aging. 8.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in September 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese, 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 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese #7, 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.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten 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.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese #10, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 94 points “The AP #10 Auslese from the Würzgarten from the Merkelbach brothers is a flat out gorgeous young wine. The bouquet is pure, refined and expressive, offering up scents of pear, strawberry chiffon, bee pollen, a nice touch of slate, spring flowers and lime blossoms. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish, bouncy and complex, with superb focus and grip, lovely filigree, just a touch of botrytis and a long, complex and utterly suave, vibrant finish. This is stunning young Auslese. 2025-2065+.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten 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 lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese #2, Mosel 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94+ points “The 2020er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese AP 2 was made from essentially clean fruit picked at 94° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (80 g/l). It offers a most engaging nose made of pear, white peach, smoke, strawberry, smoke, and fine spices. The wine is stunningly fresh, subtly creamy, and incredibly intense on the palate. Yet the flavors are precise, focused, impactful, and then again playful. The finish is focused, finely chiseled, and incredibly persistent. The aftertaste is as light as mineral water and yet so full of flavors. This is a truly remarkable Riesling in the making, with ample Schmelz but also an incredible raciness and lightness which more than reminds us of the glorious Auslese from the 1990s! This Auslese is a great success, and even has upside potential, it is that good! 2030-2060.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach ‘Urglück’ Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2018er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Urglück was harvested at 102° Oechsle in this prime part of the vineyard still planted with ungrafted vines, and was fermented down to fully sweet levels of residual sugar (80 g/l). It offers a beautiful nose made of apricot, cream, strawberry, smoke and herbs. The wine is beautifully playful and delicately zesty on the fruity and nicely creamy palate. The finish is sweet but still remarkably mouthwatering. 2028-2048.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach ‘Urglück’ Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese, 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!
Shop our sixteen Merkelbach selections now!
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Arterberry Maresh & Tan Fruit
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Arterberry Maresh & Tan Fruit
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Arterberry Maresh & Tan Fruit
De Venoge
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from de Venoge
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from de Venoge
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Arterberry Maresh & Tan Fruit sale ends Tuesday, April 8th at 9 am Pacific. De Venoge sale ends Wednesday, April 9th at 9 am Pacific.