Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2045
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Spicy Sichuan or Thai cuisine, rich duck liver pâté, and artisanal blue cheeses.
✨ Technical Specifications
Markus Molitor's Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is a monumental expression of one of the Mosel's most iconic grand crus. The Zeltinger Sonnenuhr (sundial) vineyard, named after the historic sundial erected in 1615 by Jodocus Prüm to guide vineyard workers, features exceptionally steep, south-facing slopes composed of finely weathered Devonian blue slate. Molitor, who took over his family winery in 1984 at just 20 years old, is legendary for his uncompromising quality standards, executing meticulous, multi-pass hand harvests to select only the finest grapes. This 100% Riesling is fermented spontaneously, often in traditional large oak casks (Fuder), preserving the intense mineral tension, vibrant acidity, and luscious stone fruit character that defines the estate's world-class Auslese style. Depending on the capsule color—white for dry, green for off-dry, or gold for sweet—this wine showcases the incredible versatility of the Mosel's unique terroir.
🍾 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.