Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese 2* White Capsule
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2045
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared sea scallops with a citrus-infused butter sauce, roasted pork belly with crispy crackling, or classic Alsatian choucroute garnie.
✨ Technical Specifications
Markus Molitor is a legendary figure in the Mosel, famous for reviving the region's historic reputation for producing wines of immense power, precision, and longevity. The Bernkasteler Lay vineyard, whose name 'Lay' derives from the old Celtic word for slate, is situated on a steep slope of dark blue Devonian slate right along the Mosel river. This specific bottling, a 'White Capsule' Auslese with a two-star (2*) designation, represents a dry-styled masterpiece crafted from highly selected, late-harvested Riesling grapes. Molitor's unique color-coding system uses white capsules to denote dry wines, challenging the traditional German association of Auslese with sweetness. Fermented naturally with wild yeasts in large, traditional oak casks (Fuder), this wine showcases the intense minerality, structural power, and vibrant acidity characteristic of the Bernkastel terroir, balanced by the rich texture of perfectly ripe, golden berries.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded upon an eighth-generation family viticultural heritage, Weingut Markus Molitor was transformed in 1984 when twenty-year-old Markus Molitor took over the estate at Haus Klosterberg with the dedicated mission of restoring Mosel Riesling to its historic world-class stature. Situated in Bernkastel-Kues in Germany's legendary Mosel region, the winery meticulously cultivates precipitous slate vineyards across renowned grand cru sites such as Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, and Erdener Treppchen. Molitor practices low yields, ultra-selective late hand-harvesting, and gentle spontaneous fermentation in ancient, deep vaulted cellars with minimal intervention. The estate is globally celebrated for its site-expressive Rieslings—distinguished by white, green, and gold capsules indicating dry, off-dry, and botrytized sweet styles—as well as remarkably complex, structured Pinot Noir.
🍇 Grape Varieties
100% Riesling