Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Off Dry 2023

This Kabinett Off Dry originates from the Ürziger Würzgarten vineyard in the middle Mosel, a dramatically steep site whose red and grey slate soils give Riesling its characteristic combination of exotic fruit, spice and pronounced minerality. The 2023 bottling continues Markus Molitor’s aim to capture this terroir in a feather‑light yet expressive style, picking fruit at moderate must weight so the wine remains nimble and transparent despite its residual sweetness.​

Grapes are hand‑harvested from the terraces, gently pressed and fermented at cool temperatures, with fermentation stopped to preserve a noticeable amount of natural grape sugar for an off‑dry balance. A period on fine lees helps to polish the texture and integrate sweetness and acidity, resulting in a wine that is refreshing, subtly creamy and strongly marked by the red‑slate spice of Ürziger Würzgarten.​

Tasting Notes

• Aromas of dried strawberry, red apple, lime and lemon zest, with hints of herbal spice and flinty slate.​

• Light‑bodied palate (around 9.5–10% alcohol) featuring juicy citrus and orchard‑fruit flavours, a gentle off‑dry sweetness and lively, mouthwatering acidity.​

• Long, delicately spicy finish with plenty of minerality and a slightly salty, refreshing edge that invites another sip.​

Awards and Accolades
For the Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett from Markus Molitor, a leading critic note describes the wine as having dried‑strawberry and red‑apple character, “crisp acidity” and enough unfermented grape sweetness to make it frankly off‑dry, underlining the successful balance between fruit and freshness; this assessment aligns with high‑quality Kabinett benchmarks, though a precise numeric score for the 2023 vintage is not yet clearly published. Earlier recent vintages from the same site have earned scores around the low‑90s from top critics, indicating that the cuvée is regarded as a serious, ageworthy Kabinett within the Mosel category.​

Serving and Cellaring
Serve at 8–10°C in small white‑wine glasses, giving the wine a few minutes in the glass so its red‑fruit, citrus and herbal nuances can open up. This off‑dry Kabinett pairs particularly well with mildly spicy Asian dishes, sushi, charcuterie, pork with apple, roasted poultry, and soft cheeses, and it can be enjoyed now or cellared 10–20 years to gain layers of honey, candied citrus and gentle petrol while remaining light and refreshing.​

Technical Details
Alcohol: about 9.5–10% ABV.​
Residual Sugar: off‑dry Kabinett level; clearly perceptible sweetness balanced by high acidity.​
Closure: Natural cork.