Recommended by the New York Times, Wine Spectator, Food & Wines, and Many More. Check out our recent Press.

Award-winning NYC wine shop – free local delivery & fast nationwide shipping. Learn more
1 2

Merkelbach, Urziger Wurzgarten Urgluck Riesling Auslese, 2024

Dessert Wine from Mosel, Germany
$54.99
Use code 10OFF to get 10% off 12+ bottles
If you want to taste sweet Mosel Riesling the way it was made in the 1950s, this Auslese is about as close as you can get today. For decades the brothers Alfred and Rolf Merkelbach worked their Ürzig vineyards as if the calendar had stopped, and visitors said calling on them felt like travelling into the past. When the Flurbereinigung (the vineyard re-alignment) replanted most of the Würzgarten, the Merkelbach vines stayed on their original roots, so the estate still farms old, ungrafted Riesling. The Würzgarten itself is a very steep, amphitheatre-shaped slope of stony, weathered red slate called Rotliegend, and it's known for spicy, exotic Rieslings. Johannes Selbach and his son Sebastian run the estate now, and they've kept the old cellars, the large old Mosel Fuder and Halbfuder casks, the hand racking and the long lees ageing. The one real change is that the wines now ferment on native yeasts. Plenty of producers say they're old-school. This one actually is, and an Auslese from vines like these makes the case beautifully.

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.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • Corked wine? Full refund or exchange within 60 days
  • Damaged shipment? Contact us within 48 hours
  • Storage or quality concerns? We're here to help


View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Sunday - Thursday: 12 pm - 8 pm

Friday: 11am - 9pm

Saturday: 10am - 9pm

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (212) 477-1315


Newsletter

New releases from Merkelbach go fast.

Our newsletter readers hear about new releases first, along with new arrivals and tasting invitations.

New subscribers get $15 off a first order of $100+. Unsubscribe from any email.

More about Merkelbach

Time travel in tiny cellars. The Merkelbach brothers (now continuing under the Selbach family) crafted Mosel Rieslings the way they were meant to be—fresh, delicate, true. They fermented in traditional 1200-liter oak casks, aged on original rootstock, and didn't fiddle. Their vines averaged 45 years old; their approach even older. In a region chasing glamour and oak, Merkelbach kept the faith in pure, salty refreshment.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Riesling

  • Vintage

    2024

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Traditional

  • Style

    Crisp

  • Sweetness

    Sweet

  • Body

    Medium Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Seared foie gras with roasted apples; Roquefort or Stilton with walnuts; Thai green curry or Sichuan dan dan noodles; apple tarte Tatin or apricot clafoutis.

Tasting Profile

Expect the classic Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese profile: ripe yellow peach, apricot and red berry fruit with exotic spice and a hint of saffron. Typically the palate is lush and honeyed yet light on its feet, with the Mosel's racy acidity cutting through the sweetness. Look for a long finish with a wild, slaty mineral edge.

More wines from Merkelbach

View all

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