Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2* Green Capsule
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically at its peak between 10 and 35 years from the vintage, though it possesses the structure to cellar even longer.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Spicy Sichuan or Thai cuisine, roasted duck with plum sauce, and mature, salty cheeses like Comté or blue cheese.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Markus Molitor's Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2* Green Capsule is a masterclass in the off-dry (feinherb) style of the Mosel. The 'Graacher Himmelreich' vineyard, translating to the 'Kingdom of Heaven,' is renowned for its steep, southwest-facing slopes rich in blue Devonian slate and clay, which retain moisture and impart a distinct, stony minerality and juicy structure to the wine. Molitor's unique capsule system uses green to denote an off-dry profile, balancing vibrant, electric acidity with delicate residual sweetness. The '2*' designation signifies a rigorous selection of highly concentrated, partially botrytized grapes. Fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts in traditional Fuder oak casks, this 100% Riesling weaves a complex tapestry of white peach, wet stone, and subtle exotic spice, representing centuries of Mosel winemaking heritage.
🍾 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.