Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2* (Green Capsule)
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 10 to 30 years from the vintage release, though it can be appreciated in its vibrant youth with careful decanting.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Spicy Asian dishes such as Thai curry, rich roasted pork belly, and aged or washed-rind cheeses.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 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.