The 2021 Muller-Catoir Haardter Herzog Rieslaner Beerenauslese is a white wine from the Pfalz region of Germany, specifically from Haardt an der Weinstrabe in the Herzog appellation. Produced by Muller-Catoir, this wine is crafted from Rieslaner varietal grapes and sealed with a natural cork closure. With an alcohol content of 10.0%, it is presented in a 375-milliliter bottle.
James Suckling from jamessuckling.com awarded this wine an outstanding score of 98 points. Suckling emphasizes that modern sweet wines often face misconceptions of being heavy or old-fashioned. However, he argues that this wine defies such stereotypes with "purity and precision," brimming with "ripe mango and papaya fruit." Suckling also praises its lightness and the "spectacular" power at the finish, noting that it is made from organically grown grapes. He suggests that it can be enjoyed now or held for future consumption.
Stephan Reinhardt from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate provided a thorough review, giving the wine a solid score of 94 points. Reinhardt describes the Haardter 2021 Herzog Rieslaner Beerenauslese as having a "precise, intense and concentrated, elegant, very aromatic and still refined bouquet of tropical fruits and iodine as well as crushed stones." On the palate, he finds it "dense, lush and savory," with a "saline, tight and tensioned, nicely bitter and tart-finishing" character. Reinhardt notes that despite its classification as a Beerenauslese, it does not taste overly sweet due to its mineral grip and tension. He deems it a "great and promising wine."
In summary, the 2021 Muller-Catoir Haardter Herzog Rieslaner Beerenauslese is a well-regarded sweet white wine with high accolades from experts. It stands out for its modern purity, precision, and balanced finish. Both reviewers highlight its tropical fruit notes, mineral tension, and elegant complexity, making it a noteworthy choice for those seeking a refined sweet wine.