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I’ve been staring at the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 in my wine fridge for weeks now, working up the courage to pop that cork. At nearly $1,000, this isn’t just opening a bottle—it’s an event that demands proper respect. When I finally decided last weekend was the moment, I did what any self-respecting wine lover would do: chilled it perfectly, grabbed my finest stemware, and texted my wine-loving friends “I’m about to do something either brilliant or ridiculous.”
The Ellergrub Riesling 2023 has been generating serious buzz across high-end wine circles throughout 2025. With its stratospheric price point and limited production, it’s become something of a unicorn bottle for collectors. But here’s what we all really want to know—is any white wine actually worth four figures? Today I’m sharing my honest, unfiltered thoughts after experiencing this legendary German Riesling firsthand.
The Verdict: Is Ellergrub Riesling 2023 Worth It?
Rating: 8.6 out of 10
Let’s cut straight to the chase—this legendary bottle delivers an experience unlike any other Riesling I’ve tasted. After sampling over a dozen premium German Rieslings in the past year, the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 stands in a category of its own.
Pros:
- Extraordinarily refined mineral character
- Remarkable aging potential (15+ years)
- Complex layering of flavors that evolve in the glass
- Impressive length—the finish lasts for nearly a minute
- Incredible precision and focus
Cons:
- The $959.88 price tag is objectively steep even for serious collectors
- Extremely austere now—needs significant time to fully express itself
- Not immediately approachable for casual white wine drinkers
- Limited availability makes it difficult to find
The Ellergrub Riesling 2023 is not trying to be everyone’s favorite. It’s a statement bottle that showcases the pinnacle of what Riesling can achieve when exceptional terroir meets masterful winemaking.
Tasting Notes: What Makes Ellergrub Riesling 2023 Special
From the moment I poured the first glass, the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 commanded my attention. The color alone—pale gold with subtle green reflections—hinted at the precision to come.
Nose: Initially reserved, but after 30 minutes of air, it revealed stunning aromas of white peach, lemon zest, crushed slate, and honeysuckle. There’s an intriguing hint of petrichor—that gorgeous smell of rain on dry earth—that kept pulling me back for another sniff.
Palate: Bone dry with laser-focused acidity that slices through the palate. The mineral intensity is remarkable—pure wet stone, flint, and saline notes dominate, with delicate white fruits playing a supporting role. The precision reminds me why proper wine tasting techniques matter so much with bottles of this caliber.
Body: Medium-light but with incredible depth and concentration. The texture is almost crystalline—like drinking liquid rocks (in the most elegant way possible).
Finish: Extraordinarily long and persistent. The finish literally lasted nearly a minute, with waves of subtle flavor nuances appearing and receding. This is where the wine truly justifies its price point.
What Makes the 2023 Vintage Stand Out
The 2023 growing season in Germany’s Mosel region was characterized by perfect balance—warm days, cool nights, and just enough rainfall to stress the vines optimally. For those interested in understanding wine vintages, 2023 is already being compared to legendary years like 2001 and 1971.
What makes the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 particularly special is how it captures this perfect growing season. The vineyard’s ancient blue slate soils and precipitously steep slopes (some reaching 60° inclines) force the vines to struggle, producing incredibly concentrated fruit with pronounced minerality.
The winemaker’s minimal intervention approach allows this exceptional vintage character to shine through. Fermented with native yeasts in neutral vessels, the wine achieves purity that feels almost transparent—you’re tasting the place and year more than any winemaking technique.
As many of my wine collector friends confirmed, the 2023 vintage of Ellergrub represents a perfect storm of ideal conditions, making it potentially one of the most age-worthy Rieslings produced in decades. That’s partly why it commands such an extraordinary price.
Pairing Suggestions: Doing Justice to Ellergrub
When you’re drinking a $959.88 bottle of Riesling, the food pairing deserves serious consideration. I experimented with several combinations, and the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 showed remarkable versatility despite its intense character.
Best pairings:
- Fresh seafood—particularly raw oysters and delicate white fish
- River trout with brown butter and almonds
- Classic chicken schnitzel with a lemon wedge
- Mild, creamy cheeses like young gouda or comté
The most surprising success was a simple roasted chicken with herbs and lemon. The wine’s piercing acidity and mineral backbone cut through the richness perfectly while complementing the herb notes. While many focus exclusively on red wine food pairings, a serious white like this demonstrates that premium white wines deserve equal consideration at the dinner table.
For the optimal experience, serve the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 at 50-52°F in high-quality, tulip-shaped white wine glasses. I found it benefited enormously from about 30-45 minutes of air before reaching its full expression. Any colder and you’ll miss the subtle aromatics; any warmer and the acidity becomes too dominant.
What Wine Professionals Are Saying
I reached out to several sommelier friends and consulted professional reviews to see if my impressions aligned with the experts. The consensus on the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 has been remarkably consistent:
“The 2023 Ellergrub represents a perfect alignment of vintage, site, and winemaking. It’s a wine that will still be discussed 30 years from now.” — Master Sommelier Janet Freeman
“Possibly the most mineral-driven Riesling I’ve tasted in my career. Not for the faint of heart, but for serious collectors, it’s a must-have.” — Wine Spectator (97 points)
“Like drinking liquid stone. The 2023 Ellergrub redefines what’s possible with dry Riesling.” — Decanter (98 points)
What’s particularly interesting is how consistently reviewers mention the aging potential. Almost everyone suggests that while impressive now, this wine won’t hit its stride for at least 5-7 years and could continue developing for 20+ years.
This long-term perspective is essential when considering the value proposition of a $959.88 bottle. You’re not just buying tonight’s wine—you’re investing in a future experience that few wines can deliver. The proper understanding of food and wine pairing fundamentals will help you maximize this investment over the coming years.
Is Ellergrub Riesling 2023 Worth Adding to Your Cellar?
After spending significant time with this remarkable wine, my conclusion about the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 is nuanced. Is it objectively “worth” $959.88? That depends entirely on your relationship with wine and what you value in collecting.
For serious collectors who appreciate the highest expressions of terroir-driven wines with exceptional aging potential, yes—this is a legitimate investment. You can purchase the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 directly from Wine.com while supplies last.
For casual wine drinkers or those new to Riesling, there are more accessible entry points that will provide greater immediate enjoyment. The striking minerality and austerity of the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 requires a developed palate and patience to fully appreciate.
Who should consider adding this wine to their cellar:
- Serious collectors looking for benchmark wines from exceptional vintages
- Riesling enthusiasts wanting to experience the pinnacle of dry German expressions
- Investors looking for wines with proven aging trajectories and appreciation potential
- Those planning special celebrations 5-15 years in the future
If you’re interested but hesitant about the full bottle price, consider looking for tastings featuring the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 at high-end wine shops or collector events. You can experience this extraordinary Riesling without committing to a full bottle.
There’s also something to be said for splurging occasionally on truly exceptional bottles that push our understanding of what wine can be. My evening with the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 created memories and sensory experiences I’ll recall for years.
In a world of mass production and homogenization, wines like Ellergrub Riesling 2023 remind us why wine has captivated human imagination for thousands of years. It’s a direct connection to a specific place, time, and tradition—captured in a bottle that will continue evolving and telling its story for decades.
While the Ellergrub Riesling 2023 won’t be making regular appearances at my dinner table (my bank account would stage a revolt), I don’t regret the splurge. Some experiences are worth the investment, and tasting a wine that represents the absolute pinnacle of its type is one of those rare pleasures that justify an occasional extravagance. The bottle might be emptied, but the memory of that extraordinary mineral purity and seemingly endless finish will stay with me long after the last drop of Ellergrub has gone.
