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Molitor & Merkelbach On Sale
Your Three-Day Discount Starts Now
Few vineyards in the Mosel inspire the kind of devotion reserved for Ürziger Würzgarten, and few producers translate its personality as convincingly as Markus Molitor and Merkelbach. This week, we’re turning our attention squarely to this legendary red-slate slope—and offering a rare opportunity to explore Würzgarten through two very different, yet equally compelling, interpretations.
Markus Molitor’s reputation needs little introduction. For decades, he has approached the Mosel with a near-obsessive belief that every parcel, every pick, and every level of ripeness deserves its own voice. His portfolio is famously expansive, yet never unfocused. Capsule colors—white for dry, green for off-dry, gold for sweet—serve as a roadmap to style, but the common thread is unmistakable: clarity, intensity, and a profound sense of place. Molitor’s holdings in Ürziger Würzgarten are among his most prized, including historic parcels once farmed by Jos. Christoffel Jr., and they consistently produce some of the vineyard’s most expressive wines.
At the other end of the stylistic spectrum lies Merkelbach, one of the Mosel’s most traditional and soulful family estates. Farming some of the region’s steepest, oldest vineyards, the Merkelbach brothers have long favored low yields, spontaneous fermentations, and extended lees aging in old fuder casks. Their Würzgarten wines are quietly profound—less about polish, more about texture, warmth, and honest vineyard character. Where Molitor builds architectural detail, Merkelbach lets the site speak in a softer, more instinctive voice.
What makes Ürziger Würzgarten so singular is its soil. Unlike most Mosel vineyards dominated by gray or blue slate, Würzgarten is rich in iron-laden red slate, which gives the wines their unmistakable signature: exotic spice, earthy depth, and ripe tropical notes, all carried by remarkable freshness. The name itself translates to “the spice garden of Ürzig,” and once tasted, the connection is undeniable. Even neighboring sites like Erdener Treppchen offer a completely different expression.
While these wines are irresistibly delicious in their youth, patience pays handsome dividends. Over time, citrus and stone fruit evolve into honeyed complexity, the spice becomes more layered, and the mineral backbone grows even more vivid. Best of all, these bottles remain astonishingly undervalued given their pedigree and ability to age gracefully for decades.
For a limited time, we’re offering Ürziger Würzgarten wines from both Markus Molitor and Merkelbach on sale. This is a rare chance to experience one of the Mosel’s most distinctive vineyards through two masterful—and contrasting—perspectives. Stock up, compare, and enjoy a terroir that never fails to captivate.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock Molitor & Merkelbach selections from Ürzig
10% off any 6 or more in-stock Molitor & Merkelbach selections from Ürzig
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Sale ends Wednesday, December 17th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer numerous Molitor & Merkelbach wines from Ürzig, including:
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $38, that’s $36.10 at 5% off and $34.20 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 94 points “Here’s a succulent riesling Spatlese with tons of wild strawberry and nectarine. And beneath this rather extrovert exterior is a serious structure and excellent mineral freshness. At the long finish this side of the wine becomes ever stronger. It would be easy to underestimate the aging potential of this wine due to the generous upfront fruit. Drink or hold.”
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese #9 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 93+ points “The 2018 Auslese AP #9 from the Würzgarten vineyard is another tour de force from the Merkelbachs. It offers up a magical aromatic constellation of pear, white grape, strawberries, a lovely foundation of red slate and a potpourri of floral tones redolent of violets, lilacs and orange blossoms. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish and gently glazed, with very clean botrytis, a lovely core, bright acids and a long, complex and still quite youthful finish. This is a touch more botrytized and powerful in personality than the AP #10 version, and it will need a bit more time to really start to express itself, but it should be outstanding in due course. 2028-2065. 93+. “
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese #8 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2019er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese AP 08 was harvested in the sector next to the Sonnenuhr. It offers a hugely attractive nose of vineyard peach, whipped almond cream, minty herbs, spices, William’s pear, and candied grapefruit. The wine is still on the sweet side on the palate, but its refined fruity and creamy side are superbly appealing. Add to this a great zest and a sense of purity side in the long and animating finish, and you have all the elements for a great playful Auslese in a decade and more. 2029-2059.”
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Urglück 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 30 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 94 points “The Urglück section of the Würzgarten is the Merkelbachs’ filet section, still planted with ungrafted old vines. The 2018 Urglück Auslese from Weingut Merkelbach is an utterly refined and effortless example of the vintage. The bouquet is the epitome of elegance, wafting from the glass in a blend of pear, apple, strawberry chiffon, bee pollen, lovely minerality, lime blossoms and hints of the honeycomb to come with bottle age. On the palate the wine is pure, bright and fullish, with lovely filigree and focus, a fine core, good mineral undertow and a long, nascently complex and simply superb finish. This is not flashy, but the one more pays attention to it, the further one is drawn into its bottomless sense of beauty. 2026-2065. 94.”
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Urglück 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94+ points “The 2023er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Urglück was made from clean grapes. It directly captivates one’s attention with refined and finely aromatic notes of tangerine, candied grapefruit, acacia, jasmine, violet, thyme, strawberry, and candied orange peel. The wine coats the palate with creamy and juicy fruity elements and almond paste and leaves a very precise and herbal feel of spices in the long and delineated finish. The residual sugar still needs to integrate, yet the finesse and precision are already showing the potential of this refined Auslese. 2033-2063.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Trocken (White Capsule) 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Very fresh lemon-balm and blossom nose with no hint of the opulence of the vintage. Excellent balance of bright lemon and white-peach fruit with silky acidity and a whisker of unfermented grape sweetness that smoothes the touch of tannin. Drink or hold.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Trocken (White Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett (White Capsule) is highly refined and almost floral in its precisely slatey and flinty finesse that integrates very fine Riesling aromas. Everything seems to be in a young style for this wine that is pure, structured and dry, with a lovely mix of tannins, crystalline slate acidity and lingering salinity. This is not really fragile like, say, a Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr; instead, it’s filigreed and has strong bones. Fine tannins structure the fresh and lemony yet rich finish. A serious terroir wine with just 10.5% alcohol. Tasted in May 2021.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Feinherb (Green Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Molitor’s 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett (Green Capsule) opens pure and flinty on the deep and complex, very intense yet bright and fascinating, seductive and terroir-driven nose. Lush and round on the palate yet with salty-piquant and vibrantly fresh acidity, this is a structured, even somewhat tannic Kabinett to cellar for at least 2-3 more years. Very long and endlessly salty. Tasted in May 2021.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett (Gold Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $26, that’s $24.70 at 5% off and $23.40 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “From the higher parts of the cru, the 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett (Golden Capsule) is clear, bright, intense and fruity on the elegant, slatey nose. The palate is lush, round and aromatic as well as refined, and the sweetness is balanced by the delicate, vivid, crystalline acidity. The finish is stimulatingly salty. A lovely wine that I would keep for some years, though the 2019 already drinks very well. Tasted in May 2021.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese Trocken (White Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $29.90, that’s $28.41 at 5% off and $26.91 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese (White Capsule) already shows on the nose its perfect ripeness and elegant richness in a highly refined and enormously flinty, even tannic manner. The palate is very elegant, lush and ripe yet most of all vibrantly fresh and salty-piquant, revealing a salivating, firmly structured and tannic finish. This is a Würzgarten to keep for at least 3-4 years before opening. Tasted in May 2021.
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ** Trocken (White Capsule) 2017 750ml Was $59, Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96+ points “Bottled with moderate 11% alcohol, the 2017 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese ** (White Capsule) is crystalline and super precise on the clear and flinty nose that exhibits crunchy, iron-rich stone and lime zest aromas. It is lean and fresh but dense and intense on the palate, with ripe, round and concentrated Riesling fruit, some sweetness and refined acidity. This is an elegant, highly finessed and stimulating Würzgarten with a lingering, salty-piquant finish. This wine pairs its moderate alcohol level with great complexity and mineral tension. It’s a fabulous yet still very young Würzgarten of extraordinary class and style. Tasted in March and April 2019.”
Note from Mosel Fine Wines “The 2017er Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese ** (White Capsule) comes from the Estate’s parcel in the prime Kranklay sector.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ** Trocken (White Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “he 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese ** (White Capsule) is deep, pure, fresh and flinty as well as floral on the dense and complex nose. Round, lush and elegant on the palate, this is a salty, piquant and textural Würzgarten with dramatic tension and grip. This is a gorgeous, highly potential dry Riesling with lingering salinity and serious tannin grip. I highly recommended cellaring this for 5-10 years. Tasted in May 2021.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ** (Gold Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese ** (Golden Capsule) is another absolutely brilliant Riesling that opens incredibly pure and coolish with a perfume of crushed slate and lemon verbena notes on the dense, stony and herbal nose. Succulent yet refined and elegant on the superbly balanced and seamless palate, this is a generous yet refined Auslese with subtle yet sustainable mineral finesse and energy. Stimulatingly salty and crystalline on the airy finish. Tasted from AP 89 20 in May 2021.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese *** (Gold Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $125, that’s $118.75 at 5% off and $112.50 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The golden-yellow-colored 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) is highly refined and perfectly precise on the nose that has slate and herbal notes as well as very fine Riesling aromas. Lush and generous on the sweet and concentrated palate yet super fine and with stimulating grip, this is an utterly refined and salivating Auslese with an enormously long, complex and stimulating grippy and salty finish. Gorgeous and mouth-titillating. Tasted in May 2021.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese 2017 375ml Displayed Price: $159, that’s $151.05 at 5% off and $143.10 at 10% off, 9 half-bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2017 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Beerenauslese opens with a very clear, elegant, highly aromatic and finessed bouquet of ripe tropical and domestic fruits intermixed with stony notes. On the palate, this is a lush and salty-piquant BA with great mineral vitality and lingering energy on the finish. What a filigreed, lean, finessed and light-footed sweet wine with refreshing grapefruit notes on the nose and palate. This is incredibly elegant and refined, and I can’t imagine this BA could have been done any better. It’s incredibly charming and will tickle your palate now and forever. Tasted at the domain in April 2019.”
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