Egon Müller

Like the above wines, Müller’s Auslese cuvée comes from the hallowed Scharzhofberger vineyard, though some of the hand-selected bunches used in this particular wine are inflicted with noble rot, otherwise known as botrytis. This renowned phenomenon brings added layers of texture and complexity to the final wines—and when coupled with age, provides some of the most mind-blowing drinking experiences possible. In its youth, this rare cuvée shows floral-tinged flavors of sweet yellow fruits and acacia, harmonized by vibrant acidity and a long finish. Contrary to the 8 and 8.5% ABV wines above this wondrous wine clocks in slightly higher at 11.5%.

In German, the word Spätlese translates to late harvest, though Müller takes the definition a step further, ensuring only the most healthy, superior quality grapes make the cut for this cuvée. As the name implies, fruit for this wine is harvested later than parcels used for Kabinett, resulting in an off-dry to semi-sweet wine that promises to develop in complexity and perceived dryness over time. As with all Müller wines, fruit is handpicked and fermented/aged in large-format casks prior to release. On the palate, juicy, lime-forward flavors with hints of smoke dominate the palate in the wine’s youth, yet become wildly tertiary and more earthy over time.

Müller’s Beerenauslese cuvée is one of the most coveted wines to come out of Germany. Beerenauslese, which translates to “selected berry,” is produced from hand-picked fruit afflicted with botrytis (noble rot), which diminishes water content in the berries and thus concentrates its sugars. When coupled with ample acidity, the high sugar content in these bottles (up to 100 g/L) makes this style of wine one of the most ageworthy across the board. Sweeter than the Auslese offerings, this liquid gold wine has proven to withstand the test of time over numerous decades and will continue to age gracefully if left in cellar conditions. Drink now or continue to age.