Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2* (Green Capsule)
⏳ Drinking Window
2025 - 2045
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Spicy Asian dishes such as Thai curry, rich roasted pork belly, and aged or washed-rind cheeses.
✨ Technical Specifications
Markus Molitor's Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2* Green Capsule is a masterclass in the off-dry (feinherb) style of the Mosel. The green capsule is Molitor's signature indicator for this harmonious balance of delicate residual sweetness and vibrant, structural acidity. Sourced from the steep, slate-rich slopes of the Zeltinger Himmelreich vineyard, where ancient vines cling to weathered Devonian slate, this 100% Riesling benefits from the unique microclimate of the Mosel river valley. The two-star designation indicates a highly selective harvest of exceptionally ripe grapes, yielding a wine of profound complexity and concentration. Molitor utilizes traditional, low-intervention winemaking, including spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in large, neutral oak casks (Fuder). This preserves the intense minerality, smoky slate undertones, and pristine stone fruit aromatics that have defined Mosel winemaking since Roman times.
🍾 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.