Fritz Haag 2021 Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett , Mosel, Germany

The terrifyingly steep Brauneberg hillside has been revered as a top vineyard site since Roman times (it was the Romans who first cultivated wine grapes in the Mosel valley). For centuries, Brauneberg wines were among the most celebrated of all Mosel Rieslings. The Brauneberger Juffer Kabinett is a selection of early-picked fruit and has a very fine, delicate structure. Its pure, energizing fruitiness and expressive minerality exemplify the Fritz Haag style.

THE FRITZ HAAG ESTATE The Fritz Haag estate is a historic family winery that dates back to 1605. The Haag family farms 29 hectares (72.5 acres) of vineyards in the heart of the Mosel Valley. They produce only Riesling, covering the full style spectrum, from dry to lusciously sweet. A intense “slate” character and a pronounced, fruity acidity give the wines their elegant sophistication and their great aging potential. The estate’s graceful, well-defined Rieslings are universally lauded as examples of the f inest wines the Mosel region has to offer.

THE 2021 VINTAGE After three straight years of record sun and high temperatures, nature had different plans for 2021. Spring brought plentiful precipitation, and low temperatures with fleeting hours of sunshine that delayed the flowering until in the second half of June, the historical average. July took a turn for the warmer, and a “golden October” brought sunny days and cool temperatures. This set the stage perfectly for harvest and rewarded us with highly aromatic, yellowgold grapes with rich fruit expressions and fresh minerality. It was a small but quintessentially classic Mosel vintage of massive quality, with unique elegance, concentrated fruit, low alcohol levels, and outstanding freshness