Maximin Grünhaus 'Maximin' Pinot Blanc 2021

We never meant to list this wine. It fills no hole in our portfolio and Mosel Pinot Blanc is hardly in demand from our customers. But when presented with a chance to taste at a recent gathering, we thought "Yeah, I'll bite...". Don't get us wrong, Mosel Riesling could be a desert island wine for team VG, but what a welcome relief this wine was in the middle of our acid bath (Riesling tasting). Fresh and vibrant, but not quite as steely or bracing as the classic Rieslings from this top producer. Instead, we found round fruits like cantaloupe melon, apricot and a touch of banana. More intriguing is how those fruits moved onto savoury qualities like almonds, white pepper and watercress. Anyway, we filed this under 'things we'd love to list but have no demand for', expecting it to cost through the roof... But no! Have a go at this for a bit of fun. A delicious, mineral driven, intriguing white for good money.

Located on steep, south-facing slopes two kilometres from where the river Ruwer meets the Mosel, the estate of Maximin Grünhaus has a history of viticulture that dates back to Roman times. It takes its name from the Abbey of Saint Maximin, a Benedictine monastery which owned the land from the 7th to the 18th century. Passing into French administration under Napoleon and then eventually to the von Schubert family in the late 19th century, the estate is now overseen by sixth-generation family member Maximin Von Schubert, who took over from his father Carl Von Schubert in 2014.

Carefully sourced from vineyards in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer that share the estate’s ethos and exacting standards, the Maximin range is the introduction to the Grünhaus portfolio, offering inviting wines that represent superb value. The Maximin Mosel Riesling has a charming lightness, with notes of citrus and fresh green apple and a lively, lifted finish. The Maximin Pinot Blanc brings to the range a delicate minerality and a ripe yellow stone fruit palate with white pepper undertones.