Müller-Catoir Winery in the Pfalz
I remember the first time I drank of a bottle of Müller-Catoir Scheurebe and said to myself, “Wow, I didn’t know know this grape could achieve such heights”. I’ve since had at least 3 separate experiences with wines from Müller-Catoir, and I remain dumbfounded at the quality and complexity they’re able to conjure from every varietal they harvest. This is truly a winery which continues to deliver moments of wonder every time I hold a new bottle. Fortunately, we’ve got quite a diverse selection here at Vinopolis to explore.
Based in the Pfalz village of Haardt, at the edge of the Palatinate Forest, the winery has been a benchmark for the region for nearly 250 years. Today, under the guidance of winemaker Martin Franzen, Müller-Catoir continues to produce some of the most elegant and impeccably made wines in Germany—bottles that manage to be both classically detailed and irresistibly drinkable. While Riesling remains the beating heart of the estate, what sets Müller-Catoir apart is the remarkable diversity of its range.
The Pfalz, blessed with a warmer and drier climate than the Mosel or Nahe, allows a broad spectrum of grapes to thrive, and Müller-Catoir takes full advantage. Beyond Riesling, the estate crafts superb Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Muskateller, Scheurebe, Rieslaner, and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)—each handled with the same fastidious care as their grand cru Rieslings. The Muskateller, in particular, has become something of a cult favorite: intensely aromatic, floral, and bone dry, it showcases the winery’s mastery of balance and precision. Even their entry-level bottlings shine with clarity and charm, proving that top-tier craftsmanship at Müller-Catoir isn’t reserved for the most expensive tiers.
The crown jewels of the estate are their Rieslings from Haardt, Bürgergarten, Breumel in den Mauern, and Mandelgarten, vineyards that climb the sandstone slopes just above the village. These sites give wines of radiant purity—densely flavored yet featherlight, brimming with stone fruit, citrus, and the faint, smoky minerality that marks the best Pfalz terroirs. Where Mosel Rieslings shimmer with crystalline delicacy, Müller-Catoir’s Pfalz style shows a broader frame and deeper fruit, yet always underpinned by tension and grace. These are wines of remarkable longevity but also irresistible in their youth.
Perhaps most astonishing is the value on offer. In an era when Germany’s top estates command increasingly lofty prices, Müller-Catoir remains refreshingly accessible. Their GGs can easily rival those of much more famous names, while their estate and village-level wines overdeliver year after year. This is the rare producer where every bottle—from the humblest Riesling Trocken to the grandest single-vineyard bottling—feels like a discovery.
Based in the Pfalz village of Haardt, at the edge of the Palatinate Forest, the winery has been a benchmark for the region for nearly 250 years. Today, under the guidance of winemaker Martin Franzen, Müller-Catoir continues to produce some of the most elegant and impeccably made wines in Germany—bottles that manage to be both classically detailed and irresistibly drinkable. While Riesling remains the beating heart of the estate, what sets Müller-Catoir apart is the remarkable diversity of its range.
The Pfalz, blessed with a warmer and drier climate than the Mosel or Nahe, allows a broad spectrum of grapes to thrive, and Müller-Catoir takes full advantage. Beyond Riesling, the estate crafts superb Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Muskateller, Scheurebe, Rieslaner, and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)—each handled with the same fastidious care as their grand cru Rieslings. The Muskateller, in particular, has become something of a cult favorite: intensely aromatic, floral, and bone dry, it showcases the winery’s mastery of balance and precision. Even their entry-level bottlings shine with clarity and charm, proving that top-tier craftsmanship at Müller-Catoir isn’t reserved for the most expensive tiers.
The crown jewels of the estate are their Rieslings from Haardt, Bürgergarten, Breumel in den Mauern, and Mandelgarten, vineyards that climb the sandstone slopes just above the village. These sites give wines of radiant purity—densely flavored yet featherlight, brimming with stone fruit, citrus, and the faint, smoky minerality that marks the best Pfalz terroirs. Where Mosel Rieslings shimmer with crystalline delicacy, Müller-Catoir’s Pfalz style shows a broader frame and deeper fruit, yet always underpinned by tension and grace. These are wines of remarkable longevity but also irresistible in their youth.
Perhaps most astonishing is the value on offer. In an era when Germany’s top estates command increasingly lofty prices, Müller-Catoir remains refreshingly accessible. Their GGs can easily rival those of much more famous names, while their estate and village-level wines overdeliver year after year. This is the rare producer where every bottle—from the humblest Riesling Trocken to the grandest single-vineyard bottling—feels like a discovery.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Muller-Catoir
10% off any 6-15 or more in-stock bottles of Muller-Catoir
15% off any 16 or more in-stock bottles of Muller-Catoir
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Sale ends Wednesday, November 12th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6-15 or more in-stock bottles of Muller-Catoir
15% off any 16 or more in-stock bottles of Muller-Catoir
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Wednesday, November 12th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer over twenty in-stock Muller-Catoir options on sale now, including:
Muller-Catoir Haardter Riesling Trocken 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $24, that’s $22.80 at 5% off, $21.60 at 10% off, and $20.40 at 15% off, 27 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 93 points “The 2020 Haardt Riesling Trocken AP #3 from Weingut Müller-Catoir includes older vines in its constituent components than the Gimmeldingen bottling, as the oldest vines in this bottling are nearly forty-five years of age. It is just a touch lower in acidity as well, coming in at 6.9 grams per liter and carries 4.4 grams per liter of residual sugar and an octane level of 12.5 percent. The wine delivers a refined aromatic constellation of apple, sweet grapefruit, tart orange, a beautifully elegant base of minerality, a touch of wild yeasts, spring flowers, lemongrass and just a hint of beeswax in the upper register. On the palate the wine is vibrant, full-bodied and nascently complex, with an excellent core, superb soil undertow, zesty acids, laser-like focus and a long, zesty and extremely promising finish. This is more refined in personality than the slightly more powerful Gimmeldingen, though qualitatively, they are certainly equivalent. Fine juice in the making. 2028-2065. (Jan/Feb 2022).”
Muller-Catoir Haardt Weissburgunder Trocken 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $24, that’s $22.80 at 5%, $21.60 at 10% off, and $20.40 at 15% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 93 points “Cool yet effusive nose of garden peas and a wide range of white fruit, with the emphasis on pear. Only medium-bodied with spot-on balance of ripeness and elegance. The same level of balance at the long, silky finish. Drink or hold.”
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 90 points “Though the 2020 villages level bottling of Haardt Weissburgunder from Müller-Catoir includes some younger vines in its blend, the range here is from ten to forty-three years of age, so this is not a young vine cuvée by any stretch of the imagination. The wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel and comes in at 12.5 percent octane this year, with residual sugar of 2.7 grams per liter. The wine offers up a pretty nose of peach, apple, a touch of orange peel, a fine base of soil, white flowers and just a wisp of savory notes in the upper register that suggest wild fennel. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and youthfully complex, with a fine core, excellent soil signature and cut, lovely balance and a long, serious finish. This is a fine bottle of pinot blanc! 2021-2035+. (Jan/Feb 2022).”
Muller-Catoir Haardt Sauvignon Blanc Trocken 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $26, that’s $24.70 at 5% off, $23.40 at 10% off, and $22.10 at 15% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Haardt Sauvignon Blanc is focussed on soft aroma, completely without obtrusiveness. The bouquet has elements of cassis and freshly cut hay. The taste is impressive with a rich and multi-layered woven body and a delicate finish. “
Ripe Riesling berries at the Muller-Catoir Estate
Muller-Catoir Haardter Bürgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off, $40.05 at 10% off, and $37.82 at 15% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points “Very floral with pretty herbal undertones, ranging from coriander to dill to mint. The flowers range from jasmine to honeysuckle to almond blossom. Understated and elegant from the outset. The palate has a very chalky feel to the texture with overlapping, firm lines of acidity and dainty citrus fruit. Immaculately ironed-out edges and well-defined, linear crease. Drink now or hold.”
Winery Note “The age-worthy Riesling wines from this prime section of the Haardt Bürgergarten are characterised by the optimal balance between a concentrated Riesling fruit, lingering minerality, a delicate elegance and an elaborately interwoven, long finish – Riesling to perfection.”
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points “Very floral with pretty herbal undertones, ranging from coriander to dill to mint. The flowers range from jasmine to honeysuckle to almond blossom. Understated and elegant from the outset. The palate has a very chalky feel to the texture with overlapping, firm lines of acidity and dainty citrus fruit. Immaculately ironed-out edges and well-defined, linear crease. Drink now or hold.”
Winery Note “The age-worthy Riesling wines from this prime section of the Haardt Bürgergarten are characterised by the optimal balance between a concentrated Riesling fruit, lingering minerality, a delicate elegance and an elaborately interwoven, long finish – Riesling to perfection.”
Muller-Catoir Haardter Bürgergarten Riesling Trocken 2018 750ml Was $33, Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off, $25.20 at 10% off, and $23.80 at 15% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2018 Riesling Bürgergarten ‘VDP. Erste Lage’ needed three bottles to convince me until it opened clear, pure and intense, with crushed stones and fresh ginger aromas on the nose. Pure, fresh and bright on the palate, this is a lithe, lush and salty dry Riesling with refreshing mineral grip and tension on the finish. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”
Winery Note “Shades of minerality and the deep fruitiness of ripe stone fruit characterise this Riesling from Bürgergarten. The 40-year-old vines ensure the perfect combination of concentration and refinement in its full, captivating body.”
Muller-Catoir Haardter Muskateller Trocken 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off, and $19.71 at 10% off, and $18.61 at 15% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Charisma and the purest aromas of fresh, green apples and a cool hint of nutmeg characterise this Haardt Muskateller with its elegant acidic structure and lively juicy succulence.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2018 Riesling (Gimmeldinger) Mandelgarten “VDP. Erste Lage” is pure, fresh and fine but also ripe and aromatic on the nose. The palate is pure, fresh and straight, less juicy now than the 2017 but nuanced and stimulating due to an earlier harvest. Stimulatingly salty and piquant on the finish. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”
Winery Note “The Mandelgarten Riesling is a fruity variation on the regional Riesling: many juicy, ripe pears, pepper and flowery hints of jasmine. Its velvety Riesling body is fresh and full of life.”
Muller-Catoir Haardter Herrenletten Riesling Trocken 2018 750ml Was $36.50, Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off, $25.20 at 10% off, and $23.80 at 15% off, 30 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “This shows a little bit of oomph, with powerful acidity cutting through the creamy notes of apricot, roasted pineapple and grapefruit. Ginger and tarragon details emerge midpalate and linger on the persistent, well-rounded finish. Almost there, but better to wait a few more years. Best from 2022 through 2032. 115 cases imported.”
Winery Note “Extremely ripe and concentrated fruity elements of peach, yellow plum, gooseberry and grapefruit are interwoven through the full body of this Riesling from the Haardt Herrenletten. The finish of this wine with its depth and cool minerality lingers for a good long time.”
Muller-Catoir Gimmeldingen Riesling Kabinett 2018 750ml Was $24, Displayed Price: $20.90, that’s $19.86 at 5% off, $18.81 at 10% off, and $17.76 at 15% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 91 points “Very ripe but coolingly mint-infused and muskily peony-tinged peach and fig inform the nose and the overtly sweet, glossy palate. The inner-mouth perfume and herbal essences lend the long finish an almost ethereal cast that complements its sense of alcoholic levity. (Drink between 2021-2030)”
Winery Note “After red vineyard peach and oranges balsamic notes such as caramel and flower honey follow. You won’t get enough of smelling this wine. Enchanting sweetness, the wine flows through your throat a little oily. We think of the Provence and lavender cookies. Try it with pear tart with cream topping. Hearty with farmhouse bread and ripe cheese. When you come home frozen to the marrow this Riesling will warm your soul!”
Muller-Catoir Haardter Bürgergarten Riesling Spätlese 2017 750ml Was $31.90, Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off, $25.20 at 10% off, and $23.80 at 15% off, 36+ bottles in stock
nowStuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points “Stunning nectarine, peach and papaya character, together with lovely succulence and enormous vitality, make this a breathtaking sweet Spätlese with a finish that’s straight as a laser beam and super-clean. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Muller-Catoir Haardter Bürgergarten Riesling Spätlese 2018 750ml Was $33, Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off, $25.20 at 10% off, and $23.80 at 15% off, 33 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Crushed dill and coriander meet with bright citrus, loquats and pears. Only off-dry and very balanced with a well-judged component of acidity doing wonders for the mineral, expressive finish. Dialed-in and beautiful to drink now, but better to cellar for a decade. Drink now.”
Winery Note “The delicate combination of fruitiness and acidity make up the light and lively Spätlese from the Haardt Bürgergarten. Its fruitiness has intense notes of stone fruit combined with an amazing juiciness.”
Muller-Catoir Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten Riesling Spätlese 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $27, that’s $25.65 at 5% off, $24.30 at 10% off, and $22.95 at 15% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “An exceptionally vivacious and intense combination of fruitiness and acidity with a precisely balanced aftertaste characterises this Spätlese from the Gimmeldingen Mandelgarten, complete with notes of peach and ripe citrus.”
Muller-Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Spätlese 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off, $28.71 at 10% off, and $27.11 at 15% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 96 points “Lots of dried peaches and nectarines here, but a glimmering thread of citrus and spices makes this both mineral and intense. This is a medium-dry and full-bodied scheurebe that delivers a wealth of tropical and stone fruit and lots of phenolics on the long finish. Drink now or hold.”
Winery Note “Ripe, tropical fruit notes of grapefruit, pineapple and papaya characterise the juicy Scheurebe from the Haardt Mandelring with its luminous combination of sweet and sour in the finish.”
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Breumel in den Mauern’ Riesling Auslese 2015 375ml Was $49, Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off, $35.10 at 10% off, and $33.15 at 15% off, 35 half-bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Riesling Auslese Haardter Bürgergarten Im Breumel is very clear and concentrated on the nose, but also shows the brown seed aromas of ripe Riesling. Great class and precision here, with some minty flavors. The wine is very concentrated, lush and round on the palate; it reveals a super sweet raisin flavor, as well as great finesse and vitality. This is a gorgeous Auslese with salinity and grip.”
Muller-Catoir Haardter Herzog Rieslaner Trockenbeerenauslese 2018 375ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off, $80.10 at 10% off, and $75.65 at 15% off, 36+ half-bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 97 points “Corresponding to the most desiccated (yet still virtually botrytis-free) berries picked out from the material that otherwise became this year’s Beerenauslese, here we have one of those phenomenally concentrated Müller-Catoir essays in Rieslaner’s unique dessert wine potential. Take the pear drops, honey and vanilla cream of the corresponding B.A. in all their aromatic intensity and glossy, glowing richness, and add almost buttery textural creaminess and enhanced viscosity set against a blazingly bright and invigorating evocation of fresh pineapple, clementine and lemon. The tension is, to say the least, productive…yet almost unbearable as you work the wine around in your mouth. Any sense of caramelization – such as was prominent in the corresponding Auslese – has been left behind (though perhaps some decades from now it will emerge). Smoky black tea and citrus peels lend piquant counterpoint to a mouth-shakingly vibrant, preternaturally persistent finish. The qualitative curve has in my long experience never before been this steep from Rieslaner Auslese to TBA. ‘If you could have seen how dramatically the grapes differed for each of them,’ noted Franzen, ‘then this wouldn’t surprise you.’”
Winery Note “The Rieslaner Trockenbeerenauslese delights the nose with a virtual cornucopia of various herbal aromas, which treat the palate to a magnificent interaction between fruitiness and acidity and a finish that just doesn’t seem to want to end – a wine concentrate for eternity.”