I purchased this recently for the excellent price of $26. I liked the price so much that I bought the only case I saw and shared it with a few other Chicago members. I took this to dinner last Saturday with Dr.T and a few of the Chicago Wine Mafia. We drank this with appetizers after a Champagne.

This wine is imported by Terry Theise. Of the hundreds of wines in his portfolio, he gave exactly 6 wines his highest rating of +++. This was the only Spatlese that got that rating (the other wines being Auslese or higher). He called this one of the wines of the vintage. This is not the type of wine you can wait for the experts to review before you buy. It will not be on the shelf by the time the WS or WA reviews come out.

This wine was worth the hype placed upon it by Terry Theise. It was lithe, complex and just beautifully put together. After a subpar 2002 vintage, it looks like Muller-Catoir is back if this wine is any indication. An absolutely gorgeous aromatic nose of fresh cut lavender and white fruit. This wine flowed on the palate and exhibited pure fruit notes of tangerine, apple and apricot. A little spritz now but not much. Very expressive for such a young wine. Terroir driven with wonderful minerality and a long finish. 94+ points.

I can't recommend this enough if you can find it.

VM

Good to hear that my favorite Pfalz house (and probably favorite German winery, period) is back on track. I'll have to search for this one.

Thanks for the TN!
a

WA's review on this wine just came out and Rovani gave it 93 points.

Whiner- If you have not seen it, Rovani also gave the 2003 Muller-Catoir Scheurebe Haardter Mandelring Spatlese 93 points as well. It is selling here in Chicago for $30.

VM

I opened another bottle of this wine over the weekend for an Oktoberfest party with a few board members. Outstanding Spatlese. 93 points this time.

VM

Hey Vino Me, who would you say is your overall favorite German producer? (at least for Auslese on down)

Josef Leitz

VM

Did you by any chance try his 2002 Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Trocken Spatlese?

No. I tried 2 of Leitz's 2002 Spatlese but not the Schlossberg Trocken. I recall trying the 2001 regular Schlossberg Spatlese as well.

VM

I've tried this wine 3 times in the past 10 months. It was at its best the first time (in Dec) when I rated it 93.5. Since then I rated it 92.5 twice. I think it has shut down just a touch and will re-open in about 2-3 years. I've got 4 left and I'm trying not to open another until then.

a

• 2003 Müller-Catoir Haardter Herrenletten Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Pfalz (7/2/2006)
  Purchased for $27 (courtesy of Vino Me). This is a big chewy spatlese, with juicy apricot and key lime flavors. Lovely cooling limestone notes on the periphery. Still very concentrated in the middle, it needs cellar time to blossom into greatness (which seems certain based on its tools). I'll try and hold my others for at least 2-3 more years. (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Cheers,

Otis

2003 Müller-Catoir Haardter Herrenletten Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Pfalz (10/24/2007)

Opened at Zintoberfest. My favorite white wine. Thick texture with good acidity holding the fruit together. Similar notes as before. 92 points.

VM