News — Mosel

Stein "Ohne" Library Releases

There are two key differences in the bottlings. The regular "Ohne" is picked earlier and aged in old Fuder. The "Ohne" Heinrich is picked later, representing the top selections, and is aged in smaller barrels.

Overnoy and the Mosel:
Stein's Amazing Ohne Sekt Reserve

This is a wildly complex sparkling Riesling, profoundly deep and layered. It has notes of candied ginger, apple skins, brioche, almond skins, and savory herbal, soil, and mineral notes.

2022 Stein Palmberg-Terrassen Spätlese Trocken: Awe and Reverence

Yes, it's a profound bottling from a profound site - a terraced wall of a vineyard with ungrafted vines nearing and over a century old. It is a wine that easily trades in the most serious signatures of the Mosel: weight and depth with a riveting, crystalline energy.

Frighteningly Perfect:
2021 Ludes Kabinett "Monster"

It is a vintage utterly perfect for the ruthlessly traditional style of this estate. We have a young grower taking over his family's winery and coming into the heights of his powers at exactly the right moment.

"No stone should be left unturned... "
2019 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Spätlese #10

Schaefer's 2019s seem destined to join the best vintages that this great estate produced over the past few decades.

2019 Weiser-Künstler Enkircher Ellergrub Kabinett

Ellergrub is Weiser-Künstler's top site.

Willi Schaefer: 2002-2018

"The 2017 collection by Willi Schaefer is awe-inspiring and possibly the finest ever"
- 2017 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Spätlese #10

Time has only reinforced the quote from Mosel Fine Wines above. Schaefer has been on a tear in recent years. Even in this context, the 2017s seem special. We recently opened a bottle of the Domprobst Spätlese #10, and it was stunning.

The Mosel's Finest, 118 Years of History: Stein “1900”

Stein's 1900 is one of the greatest wines of the Mosel, and no one really knows about it. This is a wine we’ve obsessed over, coveted and collected since the first vintage (2011). It’s a wine we’ve quietly introduced to a few collectors and fanatics, to near-universal amazement.

"This is a superb effort and one of the best Scharzhofberger Kabinett we have ever tasted."
- 2015 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Kabinett Alte Reben Auction

Müller's 2015s seem poised to become absolute legends. Egon Müller compares his 2015s to his 1990s, which are amazing wines - some of the best of the past few decades. We're excited to offer one of the greatest wines of Müller's 2015 collection, Scharzhofberger Kabinett Alte Reben Auction.

The Saar’s New Destiny? Dry Grand Cru Riesling:
2018 Lauer GGs: Kupp & Feils

“We have never tasted so many great dry Mosel Rieslings in any previous vintage.” –Jean Fisch and David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines 2018 was widely reported as one of the warmest vintages on record, and while in some places this may have been a liability, in the extreme cool-climate vineyards of the Mosel, this warmth served to polish the rather extreme acids that sometimes make the dry wines from this region, well, a bit harsh.

"Beautifully playful" - Lowest Price:
2018 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Spätlese

Egon Müller makes some of the most riveting wines on the planet. Of course, this is not news to any of you. We'll keep this brief.

Absolutely Bulletproof
2018 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich & Domprobst Kabinett

We've learned to approach Willi Schaefer Kabinett offers with trepidation. This is where fans of the estate devote most of their attention.

Mosel Holy Trinity - 2018 Weiser-Künstler:
Steffensberg, Gaispfad & Ellergrub Grosse Eule

Simply put, Weiser-Künstler is making some of the greatest wines in Germany. It's clear both in how people speak of the estate and in the wines themselves that Weiser-Künstler is doing everything right. They are shimmeringly clear and featherweight wines that shock you with their minerality, precision, and overall composition.

"Andreas and Barbara Adam really nailed the 2018 vintage."
- 2018 Adam Dhron In der Sängerei

In 2018, Adam turned out one of his most impressive collections of the past decade. They represent one of the high notes of the 2018 vintage. You would be hard-pressed to find a set of wines that possess as much verve and finely etched minerality.

2016 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Spätlese

Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Spätlese is simply magical. For many of you, this will sound trite. Müller's Spätlese always dazzles.

2018 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Kabinett Magnums

No other wine on earth offers the combination of intensity and walk-on-tip-toe weightlessness. Catching a bottle of Müller Kabinett in the zone is one of our most beloved wine experiences.

Planted in 1900, the Magnum Opus:
2017 Stein Alfer Hölle 1900

Ever since the first vintage in 2011, Alfer Hölle 1900 has become one of our favorite Rieslings. We have not met another winemaker in the Mosel with Ulli Stein's knowledge, passion, boundless energy and devotion to the region's forgotten vineyards. The Alfer Hölle 1900 is a monument to his efforts.

"Remarkable acidity" - 2016 Lauer Neuenberg Fass 17

Neuenberg is one of the greatest parcels in the Ayler Kupp. The site delivers a near magical combination of expansive power paired with incredible detail and finesse.

2013 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Spätlese

Last week, we offered Egon Müller's Auslese. We couldn't resist offering one more of Müller's wines before the week ended. As we said in the Auslese offering, for us, Müller makes some of the greatest wines in the world.

"Possibly the finest ever"
- 2017 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich & Domprobst Kabinett

This is an offer that I approach with a healthy amount of trepidation. Schaefer's 2017s are amazing and in painfully short supply. The small, beloved estate was down by 50%.

"The 2017 collection by Willi Schaefer is awe-inspiring and possibly the finest ever"
- 2017 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Spätlese #5

We'll keep this brief. Willi Schaefer is one of the most beloved producers in all of Germany. The 2017s are simply stunning and their production was down 50%. For a small estate where demand very often outstrips supply, this is an ugly combination.

Three Decades Young: 1988 Lauer Sekt Reserve

Lauer's Sekt Reserves have redefined how we view the category. They are simply extraordinary.

"This is plain gorgeous" Revisited
- 2016 Lauer Unterstenberg

Along with people like Keller and Willi Schaefer, Lauer turned out a stunning cast of 2016s. When it comes to Unterstenberg, Lauer nailed it in a way that we haven't seen before. This may be the most precise and multidimensional version of the wine that we've tasted.