Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese*** Dry 2020

This Auslese*** Dry comes from the renowned Zeltinger Sonnenuhr vineyard, a steep south‑facing slope of weathered slate above the Mosel that yields some of Markus Molitor’s most structured and ageworthy Rieslings. The three‑star Auslese level reflects extremely rigorous selection of late‑harvested, very ripe berries for maximum concentration, while fermentation to dryness shifts that ripeness into extract, texture and mineral depth instead of sweetness.​

Grapes are hand‑picked in several passes, sorted berry by berry, then gently pressed and fermented slowly to dryness, typically in stainless steel and large old oak, preserving purity while building layered structure. Extended ageing on fine lees integrates the high acidity and extract, resulting in a wine that is broad and dense on the mid‑palate yet sharply etched, with a distinctly slate‑driven, saline finish.​

Tasting Notes

• Aromas of white peach, citrus fruit, almond blossom and subtle earthy tones over a pronounced smoky‑slate minerality.​

• Broad yet intensely mineral palate, with concentrated citrus and stone‑fruit, vibrant acidity and finely grained phenolics that give a tactile, almost chiselled impression.​

• Very long, dry, salty finish, echoing citrus peel, herbs and cool slate, underlining both the three‑star selection and the Zeltinger Sonnenuhr origin.​

Awards and Accolades
For the specific 2020 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese*** Dry (white capsule), no clearly published numeric scores and full tasting notes from major international critics are currently available. However, other vintages of Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese*** from Markus Molitor have received mid‑90s scores from top reviewers such as Decanter and Vinous, who praise their precision, layered citrus‑stone‑fruit profiles and powerful, saline finishes; these comments refer to earlier vintages like 2018, not the 2020 wine.​

Serving and Cellaring
Serve at 10–12°C in medium‑sized white‑wine glasses and consider decanting for 30–45 minutes to let the citrus, herbal and smoky‑slate notes unfold. This dry Auslese pairs particularly well with rich seafood (lobster, scallops), roasted poultry, veal or pork with herbs, and complex vegetable dishes, and it can be cellared 15–20 years or more, gaining beeswax, dried‑citrus and smoky nuances while retaining its firm mineral spine.​

Technical Details
Alcohol: about 12–13% ABV, typical for a dry Auslese white‑capsule Riesling from the Mosel.​
Residual Sugar: dry (Auslese*** white‑capsule style, fermented through so extract and acidity provide weight rather than sweetness).​
Closure: Cork (standard for Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese*** white‑capsule bottlings).