Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 1* Green Capsule
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 25 years from the vintage release, with the potential to age gracefully for several decades.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Spicy Asian cuisine, glazed pork belly, and aged hard cheeses.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Markus Molitor is a legendary figure in the Mosel, having taken over his family's estate in 1984 at just 20 years old. His relentless pursuit of quality resurrected the reputation of steep-slope Mosel Riesling. The Zeltinger Himmelreich ('Kingdom of Heaven') vineyard features weathered Devonian slate soils that impart a distinct, stony minerality. The 'Green Capsule' signifies Molitor's unique off-dry (feinherb) style, where natural residual sweetness is perfectly balanced by the Mosel's signature electric acidity. The single star (1*) denotes a highly refined selection of grapes. Spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts in traditional neutral oak Fuder casks allows the pure, mineral-driven terroir of the Himmelreich to shine, resulting in a wine of incredible tension, stone fruit richness, and longevity.
🍾 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.