Little Place of Spring

The finest white wines in the world aren’t always Chardonnays. Haut-Brion Blanc, Vatan Clos la Neore, and Chave Hermitage Blanc come to mind, all top-quality collectibles that demand attention whenever uncorked. Today, we present two Rieslings of this caliber, available for a fraction of the price.

Emrich-Schönleber has long been considered part of the esteemed trilogy of “Grand Cru” dry Riesling producers, alongside Keller and Schäfer-Fröhlich. These are among the most statuesque, flawless dry Rieslings on Earth. (The dry Rieslings of the Mosel are fantastic but of a different character, more incisive, akin to Chablis compared to the richer wines of the Cote d’Or.)

The Halenberg GG can be regarded as the most structured and statuesque of the Grand Crus from Schönleber, both dense and stony with fruit and mineral characteristics. The 2022 vintage is smooth, elegant, beautifully textured, with vibrant acidity throughout. Frühlingsplätzchen, which roughly translates to “little place of spring”, offers soaring aromatics and sharp, linear acidity. The 2022 vintage presents a bright palate focused on lemon, complemented by a light creaminess for balance. Many have noted how accessible and giving the 2022 GGs are, a characteristic true for Schönleber, although they are rarely about fruit as much as they are about a saline quality, mineral, and flower. Both wines have commanded 93–95-point scores from Vinous.

As wine prices in nearly all categories continue to rise, we’re thankful that these wines have maintained the same price since we began promoting them with the 2020 vintage — something we can’t say for most of the wines we love.