Markus Molitor - Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** (3 STAR) Grünne Kapsel feinherb 2019 99 Parker Points

Markus Molitor – Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** Green Capsule, off-dry 2019: A Mosel masterpiece

The Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** The 2019 Green Capsule, off-dry, from the Markus Molitor Winery is an exceptional wine that epitomises the very best of German Riesling culture – awarded 99 Parker points and 19/20 points by Mövenpick Wine. The Markus Molitor Winery, taken over in 1984 by Markus Molitor as the eighth generation of his family, is now one of the largest privately run wineries on the Mosel. At the age of just 20, Molitor started out with three hectares of vineyards and developed the estate into one of Germany’s most renowned producers, being honoured in 2024 with the Walter Scheel Medal for his life’s work.

The Zeltinger Sonnenuhrvineyard is one of the most famous single-vineyard sites in the Middle Mosel and comprises around 23 hectares of steep slopes with an ideal south-south-west aspect. The soil consists of medium-depth weathered clay-slate with a high proportion of stones – a terroir that lends the wines their distinctive mineral character. What makes this site special are the ancient vineyards – most of which have not undergone land consolidation – planted with ungrafted Riesling vines, which Molitor owns here. The wines from the Zeltinger Sonnenuhr are regarded as incredibly elegant, delicate and endowed with a refined acidity.

The Auslese *** (three stars) is the highest quality tier in Markus Molitor’s range. The three stars denote a strictly limited selection from the best plots within the vineyard. The green capsule indicates the off-dry style of vinification – a style that reflects the historically traditional Mosel Riesling profile and is executed by Molitor with great precision. The grapes were harvested in October and, following a short maceration on the skins, underwent slow, cool, spontaneous fermentation, followed by gentle ageing in stainless steel tanks with a long period of fine lees ageing.

The 2019 vintage presents lively aromas of ripe apricots, mango, nutmeg and lime blossom – dense yet delicate. The 99 Parker points underscore the outstanding quality of this wine, which is regarded as a prime example of the very finest German sweet wines. For connoisseurs of great Mosel Rieslings, this wine offers a rare opportunity to experience a masterpiece from one of Germany’s most distinguished winemakers in all its splendour.