2014 Markus Molitor Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Auslese***
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Tasting notes
The golden-yellow 2014 Riesling Zeltinger Schlossberg Auslese *** (White Capsule) displays a deep, clear, concentrated, aromatic and stony/smoky bouquet of crushed stones, lemons, ripe peaches and dried apricots. Full-bodied and juicy, with great purity, complexity and intensity, this is a silky textured, crystalline and finesse-full Riesling of great elegance and balance. It's so stimulatingly delicate and salty, so intense and aromatic that I can't resist to swallow it––not only the first day I tasted it, but even three days later when the wine was even finer. Don't expect a bright, clear and pure Riesling here if you don't open the bottle a couple of days before you drink it, because this seems to be a rather dry extract of Riesling (40 grams of sugar-fee extract,) but that's exactly what it is--very fine Riesling from a very special vintage. You should certainly love it in 15, 20 and even 30 years. You just have to survive that long. It would be a waste of talents to drink this fine Schlossberg Auslese too early.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
David Schildknecht, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Prickly nose-hair-raising scents of lime peel, brown spices and applejack signal the present of botrytis, while mango and papaya point to sheer ripeness and go on to share a glycerol-rich palate with zesty, tart fresh lime. This is almost unruly in its conjunction of botrytis, overripe and citric elements. Smoky, charred notes typical for the site add depth to a penetrating, gripping, edgy finish. Here is another Molitor Auslese to revisit in a couple of years before supposing that one has properly taken its measure.
About the producer
Markus Molitor is now among the largest privately owned wine estates in the Mosel and also one of the best. With a focus on single-vineyard expressions, the estate produces between 80 and 90 different wines each vintage.