Although I have been a bit underwhelmed by most of the Schönborn wines that I have had in the past, I have read some discussion of a real improvement starting with the 2009 vintage. Most wines that I have had from this estate in the past have been good, but only a couple have exceeded that (the last vintage that I had tried anything from was 2007). Considering the sites that Schloß Schönborn owns, I always felt like they should be making some of the best wines in the Rheingau. Erbacher Marcobrunn is one of those great vineyards that they own a good chunk of, and historically it has been considered one of the very top sites in the Rheingau. This wine shows me that Schönborn has definitely improved - at least at their top level of wines.
2010 Schloß Schönborn Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling Grosses Gewächs
Nose of wildflowers, apples, and minerals. Full-bodied, powerful, yet very elegant and nicely balanced. Dry, with just a minimal touch of sweetness. Vividly mineral, focused, with notes of black plums, baked pears, cardamom, mixed peppercorns, citrus peel, and floral potpourri. Really nice length; more florality and some white sugar on the finish. Excellent.
As a side note, this bottle was clearly labeled ‘GG’, as in ‘Grosses Gewächs’ rather than ‘EG’ or Erstes Gewächs”.