(Originally published 18 October 2018.)
Riesling yield was only about 29 hl/ha in 2017 (half of 2016) because of frost that killed young vines. The harvest started 18 September, and the picking necessarily was fast because of rot in the vineyards. Acidities almost same as 2016, but different type, more herbal in 2016, observed Dr. Carl von Schubert. Fans of this great estate will find all they could desire in this vintage except overall quantity and lots of late harvest wines.
Riesling yield was only about 29 hl/ha in 2017 (half of 2016) because of frost that killed young vines. The harvest started 18 September, and the picking necessarily was fast because of rot in the vineyards. Acidities almost same as 2016, but different type, more herbal in 2016, observed Dr. Carl von Schubert. Fans of this great estate will find all they could desire in this vintage except overall quantity and lots of late harvest wines.
2016 Maximin Grünhaus Pinot Noir
Light color. Sandalwood nose. Smooth, sandalwood, red cherry, long in the mouth. Not aggressive, nice purity, but still not complex. First vines were planted in 2006. 100% destemmed, 20-25% new oak. APN 2418. 14% stated alcohol (actually about 13.8%). 87/B
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Pinot Blanc
Some sucrosity, nice crystallinity, green apple fruit, essentially dry. Round but with enough acidity. Fermented mostly in old barrels, a little stainless steel. About 4 g/l r.s. Very good job from a vintage that was not favorable to Pinot Blanc. 88/A-
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Pinot Blanc Réserve.
Some oak in nose, also some leesiness. Round, smooth, a touch of spice, long green apple. 12.5% stated alcohol. 87/B
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Riesling Monopol
Off-dry, round ripe, some citric. Mostly from Herrenberg. About 11 g/l r.s.; 8 g/l aciditiy. 11.5% stated alcohol. 87/B
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Riesling Alte Reben
Dry, tension, energy, medium-weight, stony. Mostly from Abtsberg. 11.5% stated alcohol. 92/A
2017 (Maximin Grünhaus) Abtsberg Riesling GG
Yellow peach with flesh, but still tight. Lots of material packed into this, but very young. Richness, but good tension with stoniness, some power. 93/A
2017 (Maximin Grünhaus) Herrenberg Riesling GG
Herbal and ripe white peach nose and mouth, good minerality, not as powerful or round as Abtsberg. Ripe, pure, medium-weight, long. 93+/A
2017 (Maximin Grünhaus) Herrenberg Riesling Superior
Pure, good acidity and crispness for the vintage. Clear. just a little sweet — the concept of the Superior wines is not to force fermentation to full dryness, but rather to allow fermentation to go as far as it will on its own. 11.5% stated alcohol. 92+/A
2017 (Maximin Grünhaus) Abtsberg Riesling Superior
Typical Abtsberg stoniness and energy, almost dry — drier than Herrenberg Superior. Apply fruit. Good length. 11.5% stated alcohol. 93/A
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Bruderberg Riesling Kabinett
Apply fruit, not a lot of acidity. Clear, round. Bruderberg is the third of the estate’s three vineyards and can produce outstanding wine, as here. 8.0% stated alcohol. 91/A
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett
Peach fruit, off dry, good nervosity and structure. 7.5% stated alcohol. 92/A
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett Nr. 45 (auction wine)
Marzipan, quince, off dry, long, powerful, but also elegant. (The regular Kabinett was sold out, so this was offered at the tasting, instead.) 7.5% stated alcohol. 94/A+
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Herrenberg Spätlese
Elegant, pure, apple, peach, depth, length, finesse. 7.0% stated alcohol. 93/A
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Spätlese
More austere for now with stoniness, length, energy. 7.5% stated alcohol. 94/A
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Auslese
Great acid-sugar balance, crisp, subtle, high acidity, long, pure, peach, intense, penetrating. 7.5% stated alcohol. 96(+)/A
2017 Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Auslese Jungfernwein (auction)
3 yr-old vines — small berries, high must weights, a bit of botrytis. Round, intense, more weight and power here than in previous wine, orange peel flavors, long. 96/A