Müller-Catoir Bürgergarten, "Im Breumel" Grosses Gewächs, Riesling, Pfalz, Germany, 2019

Overview of the Wine
Family owned since 1774 with 9 generations tending the vines, the winery is now run by Philipp David Catoir. Martin Franzen, hailing from the Mosel, with experience as head of operations at Schlossgut Diel in the Nahe and Gut Nagelsforst in Baden, took over winemaking responsibility from Hans-Günther Schwarz in 2001. In an effort to showcase terroir and varietal character, Müller-Catoir has adopted the following philosophy of winegrowing: “Vines were grown by natural methods with organic fertilization, permanent green cutting that gets more and more radical every summer, and ever-greater selective harvesting with hand-picking of grapes for even the most “basic” kabinett wine – all these measures cannot help but produce only a small yield of wines with a mineral note, a filigree acidity structure and exotic fruit aromas.” The estate began an organic conversion in 2007 and completed their first organic vintage in 2009. The vineyards in Haardt are composed of primary rock (urgestein) and sandstone, with an increasing proportion of gravel lower on the slopes. Vineyards of Gimmeldingen contain more loess and sand, while the vineyards of Mussbach are the most gravelly. Müller-Catoir also bottles several “micro parcels”; one of which, the Breumel in den Mauern, is a monopole inside the Burgergarten which was first planted 700 years ago, and is also one of the oldest vineyards in the Pfalz.

Müller-Catoir was a pioneer of reductive winemaking in Germany. The estate implements a gentle crush, a long skin contact, slow gentle pressing, and then ferments at warmer than customary fermentation temperatures in stainless steel. The wine is racked only once and very late. Müller-Catoir produces wines of outstanding transparency and density, and remains emblematic of Riesling at its most sophisticated.

Grape / Blend
Riesling

Origin
Pfalz, Germany

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The age-worthy Riesling wines from this prime section of the Haardt Bürgergarten are characterized by the optimal balance between a concentrated Riesling fruit, lingering minerality, a delicate elegance and an elaborately interwoven, long finish - Riesling to perfection.

98 Points - James Suckling
Like the first rosebud of the season that has fully colored, but is only just beginning to open up, this is full of promise. Densely packed with minerals and positive tannins that are neatly wrapped in creaminess from lees contact, this is locked into its own time frame. You really need to give it a lot of air for the mirabelle, nectarine and mandarin notes to emerge. Then there’s a stunning interplay of fruit and structure through the long, very complete finish. From organically grown grapes. Better after 2021.

93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Bürgergarten "Im Breumel" Riesling GG is deep, clear and pure on the aromatic, elegant and mineral nose with its ripe and concentrated aromas of yellow stone fruit. Full-bodied, round and juicy on the silky-textured palate, this is an intense Im Bremen with stewed mirabelle aromas on the finish. Very elegant and with fine tannins, this is a wine to keep.

Product size: 750ml