2023 Künstler Erbacher Macrobrunn GG Riesling Trocken | 99 points James Suckling | Rheingau

🏆 99 Points | Germany's Legendary Marcobrunn Vineyard – A Riesling of Extraordinary Power and Precision!

99 Points – JamesSuckling.com | 95+ Points – Falstaff

One of the Rheingau's Most Historic Grand Cru Vineyards – A Monumental Dry Riesling from Gunter Künstler!

2023 Künstler Erbacher Marcobrunn GG Riesling Trocken

Rheingau, Germany

RRP $320

What happens when one of Germany's greatest Riesling winemakers gets his hands on fruit from one of the most legendary vineyards in the entire country?

You get one of the most extraordinary dry Rieslings imaginable!

And that's exactly what we have here with the 2023 Künstler Erbacher Marcobrunn Grosses Gewächs Riesling.

This is not your everyday Riesling.

This is one of Germany's great white wines.

A wine of immense concentration, extraordinary mineral precision and breathtaking length.

And look at the scores!

99 POINTS – JAMES SUCKLING!

95+ POINTS – FALSTAFF!

But here's what makes this wine particularly fascinating.

The vineyard is called Marcobrunn.

And for centuries, Marcobrunn has been regarded as one of the great Riesling sites of the Rheingau.

It occupies a magnificent south-facing slope close to the Rhine River, where deep loess, marl and limestone-rich soils create exceptional conditions for Riesling.

And the winemaker?

Gunter Künstler.

One of the great modern champions of powerful, age-worthy dry German Riesling.

This is exactly the sort of wine I love introducing to customers at Liquid Vibe!

Erbacher Marcobrunn – One of Germany's Most Legendary Vineyards

Here's something that serious Riesling lovers should know.

Marcobrunn is not simply another vineyard name.

It's one of the historic benchmarks of German Riesling.

Located between the villages of Erbach and Hattenheim in the Rheingau, the vineyard sits close to the Rhine River.

And its reputation has been established over generations.

The name comes from the historic Marcobrunn spring, a natural water source associated with the site.

But it's the vineyard's extraordinary combination of location, exposure and soils that makes it so special.

The entire vineyard covers just 7.1 hectares.

That's tiny.

And it's entirely south-facing.

The vines sit approximately 90–110 metres above sea level, overlooking the Rhine.

The river helps moderate the local climate, while the southerly exposure provides excellent sunlight during the growing season.

For Riesling, this combination can be absolutely magnificent.

The grapes develop remarkable flavour concentration.

But retain the acidity that gives great German Riesling its freshness, tension and extraordinary ageing potential.

Marcobrunn is one of those vineyards where everything seems to come together.

Here's Something Fascinating – The Soils Are Completely Different from the Slate of the Mosel

When people think about great German Riesling, they often imagine steep slate-covered vineyards.

And that's certainly an important part of the story in the Mosel.

But Marcobrunn is different.

Very different.

Its soils include:

Tertiary marl.

Deep loess loam.

Mica.

Significant limestone-rich deposits.

These deeper, more substantial soils help create the growing conditions associated with Marcobrunn's remarkable concentration and structure.

The resulting wines are often broader and more powerful than the delicate, featherweight Rieslings many people associate with Germany.

But the finest examples also retain extraordinary finesse.

Power and elegance in the same glass.

And that is exactly what makes this vineyard so special.

Gunter Künstler – One of Germany's Great Riesling Winemakers

Gunter Künstler is one of the most important names in modern Rheingau Riesling.

The Künstler family established its winery in Hochheim after relocating from what is now the Czech Republic following the Second World War.

Gunter took over responsibility for the estate in the early 1990s.

And he developed an uncompromising reputation for producing powerful, structured, exceptionally age-worthy dry Rieslings.

His philosophy has always been centred on great vineyards.

Low yields.

Exceptional fruit.

Precise vineyard management.

And wines that express their origins.

Today, the estate works with some of the Rheingau's greatest vineyard sites.

Hochheimer Hölle.

Hochheimer Kirchenstück.

Hochheimer Domdechaney.

Rüdesheimer Berg Schlossberg.

Erbacher Marcobrunn.

It's an extraordinary collection.

And the 2023 vintage has been particularly celebrated.

The 2023 Vintage – An Extraordinary Year for Künstler

Here's something that makes this wine even more exciting.

When Stuart Pigott reviewed the 2023 Künstler wines for JamesSuckling.com, he described the vintage as the estate's finest to date.

That's a remarkable endorsement.

Especially for a producer with such a distinguished history.

The 2023 collection included several extraordinary Grosses Gewächs Rieslings.

And Marcobrunn was among the standouts.

99 POINTS!

An extraordinary achievement.

The wine combines monumental concentration with remarkable delicacy.

And that combination is exceptionally difficult to achieve.

What Does Grosses Gewächs Mean?

You'll notice the letters GG on the label.

They stand for Grosses Gewächs.

This is the designation used by Germany's VDP association for top-quality dry wines from its classified Grosse Lage vineyards.

Think of it as the dry-wine expression of Germany's finest vineyard classification.

The comparison with Burgundy's Grand Cru vineyards is useful, although the two classification systems are not identical.

The important point is this:

Marcobrunn is a VDP.GROSSE LAGE vineyard.

And this Künstler wine is its dry Grosses Gewächs expression.

That means the wine comes from an exceptional classified site and is made to showcase the vineyard's distinctive character.

For serious Riesling lovers, these are some of the most exciting wines in the world.

Winemaking – Large Neutral Oak and Extraordinary Precision

Here's another fascinating detail.

Despite the wine's enormous concentration, Künstler doesn't rely on new oak to create richness.

Quite the opposite.

The fruit is destemmed, gently pressed and fermented at controlled temperatures in large neutral oak casks.

After fermentation, the wine is matured on fine lees.

The objective is to develop texture, structure and complexity without introducing obvious new-oak flavours.

This is an important distinction.

The wine's power comes primarily from the vineyard and fruit.

Not from heavily toasted barrels.

The finished Riesling is dry, concentrated and beautifully structured.

And the ageing potential is extraordinary.

Tasting Notes – Mirabelle Plum, White Peach, Citrus and Monumental Minerality

The 2023 Künstler Marcobrunn GG is a magnificent Riesling.

The aromatics are incredibly complex.

Expect:

• Mirabelle plum

• White peach

• Fresh pear

• Lemon zest

• Orange peel

• Bergamot

• Dried herbs

• Subtle mint

• Delicate floral perfume

• Crushed-stone character

• Fine savoury spice

The palate is where things become extraordinary.

There's immense concentration.

But not heaviness.

The fruit is beautifully layered.

Stone fruit.

Citrus.

Delicate herbal complexity.

And an almost overwhelming sense of mineral tension.

Yet the texture is remarkably refined.

There's beautiful phenolic grip.

Fine acidity.

And a powerful savoury, saline character.

Then comes the finish.

Absolutely extraordinary!

Long.

Expansive.

Persistent.

And seemingly endless.

Mirabelle plum. White peach. Bergamot. Dried herbs. Crushed stone. Saline minerality. Monumental length.

This is Riesling at an extraordinary level.

99 Points – Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com

Stuart Pigott awarded the 2023 Künstler Erbacher Marcobrunn GG an astonishing:

99 POINTS!

His review emphasises the wine's extraordinary power and mineral intensity.

But here's what makes his assessment so interesting.

Despite the wine's enormous concentration, he also highlights its remarkable lightness and delicacy.

That's the magic of truly great Riesling.

A wine can have immense flavour intensity without feeling heavy.

And the finish?

Expansive.

Powerful.

And extraordinarily persistent.

Pigott was particularly impressed by the Mirabelle plum character and the way the wine combines density with finesse.

99 points for one of Germany's legendary Grand Cru Rieslings!

An extraordinary endorsement.

95+ Points – Falstaff

And the critical acclaim doesn't stop there.

95+ POINTS – FALSTAFF!

Reviewed by Ulrich Sautter in November 2025, the wine was praised for its exceptional aromatic concentration.

Orange peel.

Blood orange.

Bergamot.

Pine needle.

Spearmint.

And a wonderfully savoury, saline palate.

The wine's fine creamy phenolic texture and remarkable length were particular highlights.

Another outstanding endorsement for a genuinely world-class Riesling.

Why Marcobrunn Is Different from Many Other Great German Rieslings

Here's something I find particularly fascinating.

Germany produces some of the world's most delicate Rieslings.

Wines with extraordinarily low alcohol.

Beautiful floral perfume.

And almost weightless elegance.

But Marcobrunn can be quite different.

The wines often have a greater sense of breadth and power.

More concentration.

More structure.

And a distinctive combination of ripe fruit and mineral tension.

The 2023 Künstler is a perfect example.

It's a full-bodied dry Riesling.

Yet it has remarkable precision.

A wine that combines richness with finesse.

And that's why Marcobrunn deserves to be considered among Germany's great vineyards.

For Lovers of Great White Burgundy

Here's something I tell people who love great white Burgundy.

Don't overlook Germany's finest dry Rieslings.

Because at this level, the wines have extraordinary complexity.

Texture.

Mineral structure.

Length.

And the ability to age for decades.

Of course, Riesling and Chardonnay are very different varieties.

But the qualities that make great white Burgundy compelling are also present in Germany's finest Grosses Gewächs Rieslings.

A remarkable vineyard.

Beautifully balanced fruit.

Fine acidity.

Extraordinary complexity.

And a profound sense of place.

This is a Riesling that deserves to be enjoyed alongside the world's greatest white wines.

Cellaring Potential – A Riesling Built for Decades

This is one of the most exciting aspects of the wine.

The Künstler estate describes the 2023 Marcobrunn as having enormous ageing potential.

Its own guidance suggests approximately 18–25 years of cellaring potential.

That's extraordinary.

The wine is already impressive, but it has the concentration and structure to develop for many years.

Suggested drinking window: 2026–2048, under excellent storage conditions.

As the wine matures, the youthful citrus and stone fruit characters should develop deeper savoury, herbal, honeyed and complex tertiary notes.

And that extraordinary acidity should continue to provide freshness.

If you're building a serious Riesling cellar, this is exactly the sort of wine to consider.

Food Pairings

This is a magnificent food wine.

I'd recommend:

• Southern rock lobster

• Grilled scallops

• Turbot or other premium white fish

• Roast pork

• Roast chicken with herbs

• Seared king prawns

• Asian seafood dishes

• Aged Comté

• Gruyère

Personally, I'd love this with grilled lobster, lemon butter and fresh herbs.

The wine's immense concentration would stand up beautifully to the richness.

And its wonderful acidity and mineral tension would provide extraordinary freshness.

Why We Love It at Liquid Vibe

Because this is exactly what makes the world of fine wine so exciting.

One of Germany's most legendary vineyards.

A tiny, south-facing Grand Cru site.

Remarkable limestone-rich soils.

One of the Rheingau's greatest winemakers.

An exceptional vintage.

And a staggering 99-point review.

Look at what you're getting.

2023 Künstler Erbacher Marcobrunn GG Riesling Trocken

Rheingau, Germany

VDP.GROSSE LAGE – Grosses Gewächs

Historic Marcobrunn Vineyard – Just 7.1 Hectares

South-Facing Vineyard

90–110 Metres Above Sea Level

Marl, Loess, Mica and Limestone-Rich Soils

Winemaker – Gunter Künstler

Fermented in Large Neutral Oak

Extraordinary Cellaring Potential

99 Points – JamesSuckling.com

95+ Points – Falstaff

RRP $320

This is serious Riesling.

A wine of immense concentration.

Extraordinary mineral precision.

Beautiful texture.

And breathtaking length.

If you're serious about collecting the world's greatest white wines, this deserves your attention.

2023 KÜNSTLER ERBACHER MARCOBRUNN GG RIESLING TROCKEN

RHEINGAU, GERMANY

99 POINTS – JAMES SUCKLING!

95+ POINTS – FALSTAFF!

RRP $320

ONE OF GERMANY'S MOST LEGENDARY GRAND CRU VINEYARDS!

MIRABELLE PLUM. WHITE PEACH. BERGAMOT. DRIED HERBS. CRUSHED STONE. SALINE MINERALITY. EXTRAORDINARY LENGTH.

A MONUMENTAL DRY RIESLING FROM GUNTER KÜNSTLER – ONE OF THE GREAT WHITE WINES OF GERMANY!