Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2* Goldkapsel
⏳ wine.drinking_window
While approachable in its youth for its vibrant fruit, this Auslese 2* Goldkapsel possesses monumental aging potential and is typically best enjoyed 15 to 45 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Rich blue cheeses like Roquefort, classic foie gras or savory duck pâté, and fruit-based desserts such as peach melba or apple tart.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Perched on the steep, sun-drenched slopes of the Mosel valley, the Graacher Himmelreich—or 'Kingdom of Heaven'—vineyard is legendary for its deep, moisture-retaining Devonian slate soils. Markus Molitor, a master of precision, harnesses this unique terroir to craft a Riesling of breathtaking complexity. The 'Goldkapsel' (Gold Capsule) denotes a classic sweet style, while the two-star (2*) designation signifies an extraordinary selection of partially botrytised grapes. Fermented with indigenous yeasts in traditional large oak casks (Fuder), this wine represents a harmonious marriage of rich, honeyed concentration and a vibrant, slate-driven mineral backbone that defines the historic Mosel style.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Taking over his family's estate in 1984 at just twenty years old, Markus Molitor set out to restore the Mosel region's historic prestige through uncompromising quality and traditional craftsmanship. Based at the historic Haus Klosterberg in Bernkastel-Kues, the winery meticulously farms steep, slate-rich vineyards across the Mosel and Saar, utilizing extremely late hand-harvesting and spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak Fuder casks. Molitor is globally renowned for his precise, mineral-driven Rieslings—distinguished by white, green, and gold capsules indicating dryness levels—as well as his structured, elegant Spätburgunder. This obsessive dedication to terroir has earned the estate numerous perfect 100-point scores, cementing its status as an icon of German winemaking.