Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken - Saarburger Rausch Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 1983, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Introduction: The quintessence of Saar elegance in a golden year

The Forstmeister Geltz-Zillikenwinery in Saarburg is an institution on the Saar, known for its delicate, nervous Rieslings characterised by breathtaking minerality. The Saarburger Rauschsite is one of the absolute top terraces in the region; its extremely steep, south-facing slopes of Devonian slate produce wines of seismic tension and sheer, salty elegance. An Auslese with a gold cap from the 1983 vintage- one of the great, classic Saar vintages of the 1980s - represents the pinnacle of this form of expression. This wine is not an opulent tour de force, but a study in precision, acidity and infinite mineral length.

Sensory description (with perfect ageing)

After more than 40 years in the bottle, this Auslese has left behind every trace of youthfulness and transformed into a wine of timeless, crystalline complexity. It is the essence of Saar Riesling.

Colour

• A radiant, light to medium golden yellowwith intense greenish-golden reflections. The colour is clear, lively and shows no signs of fatigue - a sign of intact, lively acidity.

Nose

The bouquet is of breathtaking intensity, purity and focus, dominated by a complex blend of ripe fruit and predominantly ripe mineral flavours.

• Ripe, citrusy fruit: Apricot jam, preserved lemon, mirabelle plum purée, dried pineapple slices.

• Dominant petrol & ripe notes: The classic petrol note is strong, elegant and interwoven with notes of beeswax, honeycomb, toasted almonds and herbs.

• The explosive minerality of Rausch: An intense, steeply slatey, salty-smoky minerality permeates the bouquet and lends it a cool, almost metallic precision. Flavours of flint, wet pebbles and chalk.

• Harmony: Everything is in perfect balance - the sweetness has a mineral flavour, the acidity can be felt as freshness on the nose.

Palate

The palate confirms the image of an absolutely silky, light and yet infinitely long and complex wine.

• Texture: Delicate, silky and with a floating lightness. The residual sweetness is fully integrated into the texture and acts as a smooth, warming roundness, never as body or heaviness.

• Acidity: The structural marvel and the heart of the wine, it is laser-like, electric and of almost infinite length. It carries the wine resiliently, gives it its breathtaking tension, salty freshness and is the guarantor of its almost immortal vitality. It cuts through all ripeness and sweetness.

• Flavour: A perfect, linear reflection of the nose: ripe apricot, honey, a firework of petrol and smoky slate, paired with salty minerality.

• Finish: Legendary length, cool, salty and of hypnotic beauty. The aftertaste of slate, salt, petrol, honey and a refreshing citrus bitterness can last for minutes and leaves an invigorating, clean impression that invites an immediate sip.

Vintage & terroir

1983 vintage on the Saar

• An outstanding, classic and extremely acidic vintage. A long, cool autumn allowed for slow ripening with brilliant, preserved acidity. The Saar wines from this year are famous for their nervous elegance, extreme longevity and crystalline, mineral character. They needed decades to develop.

Saarburger Rausch site

• One of the most iconicand steepest slate sites in the Mosel-Saar. The pure Devonian slate stores heat and gives the wine an intense, smoky-salty minerality.

• Character: The wines are never opulent or heavy, but of transparent density, extreme tension and an almost cutting mineral sharpness. They are the antithesis of the fruit-emphasised, soft Riesling.

The Geltz-Zilliken signature

• Traditional, purist approach: longest maturation, gentlest vinification, long fermentation and maturation in large old barrels.

• Gold capsule: Characterises the absolute best and most concentrated barrel selection - more intensity, more complexity, more potential.

• The result is wines of rare transparency, nervous minerality and timeless structure.

Drinking maturity & ageing potential

Current drinking maturity

The wine reachedits optimum drinking window around 10-15 years agoand is on a plateau of great harmony and complexity. It is a perfect example of a fully mature, old Saar Riesling.

Development potential

• Peak: Now. No further improvement is to be expected.

• Shelf life: With perfect cellaring, it can remain in this condition for another 5-10 years, but will slowly lose its freshness and intensity.

Rating & recommendations

Rating (for an intact bottle): 96-98/100 points

A Riesling of absolute world class and a reference for the Saar and the 1983 vintage. It embodies the essence of what makes a great, old, mineral Riesling: floating elegance, electric acidity and infinite length.

Recommendations for enjoyment

1. Decanting: Not necessary. Gentle pouring and unfolding in the glass is ideal.

2. Serving temperature: 8-10°C. The coolness preserves its lively acidity and freshness.

3. Glass: A large, tulip-shaped white wine glass.

4. Food pairing: This wine is the food. Enjoy on its own or with exquisite, subtle accompaniments:

   • Fresh oysters or scallops.

   • Grilled fish (zander, trout).

   • Light poultry dishes.

   • Blue cheese (Roquefort).

   • Simply pure, as a meditative tasting.

Conclusion

The Geltz-Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Auslese Goldkapsel 1983 is a wine of unrivalled beauty and intellectual fascination. It is not a sensual seduction, but an ethereal, almost spiritual experience. It demonstrates the immortal magic of the combination of cool climate, pure slate and the artisanal patience of a great winery. Opening a bottle like this is a privileged event and a lesson in humility towards the power of terroir and time. An absolute jewel for the collector and an unforgettable taste experience for every connoisseur. Timeless.