2015 Wehlener Klosterberg Auslese (2 Star) GK

I noted that a "two-star" Auslese from Klosterberg represents a rarity and this "three-star" effort all the more so. This wine more effectively buttresses the case Molitor is trying to make for his estate’s home vineyard as an underappreciated source of potential profundity. Marzipan and apple jelly are garlanded in honeysuckle and lily in a headily seductive aromatic display and on a creamy palate where confectionary, confitured and liquid floral elements are all reinforced by unabashed sweetness. The finish here is remarkable not only for its sheer length but for its buoyancy, textural refinement and ability to project very pure fruit. This alluring elixir is a prime example of botrytis doing its inimitable work of concentration and enhancement but then backing off without leaving any smudgy, fungal fingerprints, let alone any trace of bitterness. As I mentioned in the case of the corresponding “two-star” Auslese, whether products of the Klosterberg will equal the longevity of analytically comparable Rieslings from acknowledged top sites must remain an open question.