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Muller-Catoir, Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Spätlese, 2002

White Wine from Pfalz, Germany
$49.99
Use code 10OFF to get 10% off 12+ bottles
This mature Riesling Spätlese comes from a real turning-point vintage. 2002 was the year Martin Franzen, a Mosel native, took over Müller-Catoir's vineyards and cellar from Hans-Günter Schwarz, who had been cellar master for 42 years. It was also the year Philipp David Catoir, an architect by training, became the ninth generation to run the estate, part of a Huguenot family on record making wine in the Pfalz since 1744. The Haardter Bürgergarten takes its name from the old term "Bergergarten," a garden on a hill. Its vines sit 160–200 meters up, facing southeast, on deep weathered yellow sandstone layered with loess and clay. That soil is loose, quartz-heavy and drains freely, so the roots have to go deep for water and nutrients (the same Haardt sandstone is still quarried nearby). With more than twenty years in bottle, this is a chance to see what a Pfalz Spätlese turns into with age, and to taste the first vintage from a new team at a great estate.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

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More about Muller-Catoir

Every bottle of Müller-Catoir is a love letter. There is a visceral experience with these wines, like a pumice stone, a rough surface to a smooth finish. These aren't razor edged wines, forcing a point of view, they are edgy with secrets to share with those who are willing to listen.

This historic estate has had hundreds of years and plenty of talented winemakers to garner it critical acclaim. But never have they rested on their laurels, even now, with some of the most careful farming and strictest selection of grapes from anywhere. Whether dry or sweet, Riesling or Pinot Noir, young or old, the stark minerality of these wines will bring you back for more.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Riesling

  • Vintage

    2002

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Crisp

  • Sweetness

    Off-Dry

  • Body

    Medium Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Pork belly with an apple-cider glaze; Thai larb or green papaya salad; mapo tofu with mild chili; smoked trout with horseradish cream; roast duck with plum sauce; aged Gouda.

Tasting Profile

Expect the classic Pfalz Spätlese profile: ripe peach, apricot and citrus, a gentle touch of sweetness, and bright, racy acidity on a medium body. With bottle age, Riesling in this style typically moves toward honey, dried fruit and a hint of petrol, finishing long and clean. Think riper and rounder than a typical Mosel Riesling.

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WINE GUIDES

German Wines

Is there a better grape than Riesling? Is there a better value? Its fruit purity, its perfume, and its mineral nuance are all unparalleled. And for centuries, the top German Rieslings were priced accordingly: at least as expensive as the top red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. But nowadays you could spend a lifetime exploring Germany’s great Riesling-producing regions while staying well within your budget. You might take an occasional break to try Germany’s other white grapes or perhaps a glass of Spätburgunder (the local name for Pinot Noir). It’s time to get started!

Learn more about German Wines