2019 Markus Molitor Riesling Auslese Weiße Kapsel Box

Markus Molitor is a German winemaker based in the Mosel, Germany. The winery is known for producing high-quality Rieslings, and Markus Molitor is considered one of the most innovative winemakers in the region. The Molitor family has a deep-rooted history in winemaking that spans many generations. Markus Molitor represents the eighth generation of the Molitor heritage. The family’s involvement in winegrowing in the Mosel dates back to the 18th century. Markus Molitor officially took over the family estate in 1984 at the age of 20. The estate, located in the Mosel wine region, features steep vineyards along the Mosel River, a characteristic feature of the region. The Mosel is known for its steep, terraced vineyards. The slopes provide optimum exposure to sunlight and are an integral part of the unique terroir of the wines produced in this region. This Auslese Weiße Kapsel collection box 2019 consists of 6 unique cuvees from the Mosel. After a stunning 2018, 2019 is again a top year for Markus Molitor, who owns numerous grand cru sites in the Middle Mosel between Traben-Trarbach and Bernkastel, plus, most recently, the Thörnicher Ritsch and in the Saar Valley. Molitor's 2019 Rieslings are bright, precise, laser-sharp and super clear. They show ripe and aromatic fruit and precise terroir flavours that make all the wines incredibly distinctive. You can't confuse the sites if you're trained enough, and you certainly can't confuse the predicates, which are clearly defined, even though a classic Kabinett in modern times is always a downgraded Spätlese or even Auslese, if the category refers to must weight and not just style. Only a few of the 2019 three-star Auslesen contained botrytized grapes, and even the Beerenauslesen are crystal clear and tangy, and not nearly as rich and sweet as this category is often interpreted. After a mild and wet winter, warm, dry and sunny weather in April allowed for rapid budding of the vines. And there were excellent flowering conditions from early to mid-June, paving the way for a good vintage. The kind spring weather was followed by one of the warmest summers on record, with abundant sunshine and extremely low rainfall. Due to the low pruning level (low yields) and the dense planting of the plots (deep rooting), Molitor reports that “the long drought during the summer could not harm the ripening process of the grapes. Several vineyards in our extensive portfolio of locations were also favoured by rain and thus showed an excellent water balance in the soil for this low rainfall year." Occasional sunburn on the berries had to be accepted as a natural yield reduction, and the ample rainfall in late July and early August came at just the right time to support and promote the ripening phase of the grapes. "The development of the acid structure and the must weights raised hopes for a classic Mosel Riesling vintage," reports Molitor. "The combination of warm, sunny days and cool nights in early autumn, mid-September, provided ideal harvest conditions and resulted in excellent aroma development in the berries. 2019 Weingut Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Weiße Kapsel) (98+RP) The Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (White Capsule) 2019 offers a deep, ripe and very intense yet refined and noble bouquet of ripe (tropical) stone fruits such as mango, golden passion fruit and finely ground and stony slate and iodine notes. Rich and intense yet very refined and crystalline on the palate, with lively yet refined acidity and plenty of elegant if not subversive power, grip and tension, this is a very elegant, layered and endlessly salty and playful Sonnenuhr that delivers all the charm and complexity we have come to expect from this acclaimed grand cru. 2019 Weingut Markus Molitor Zeltlinger Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Weiße Kapsel) (98+RP) The Zeltlinger Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (White Capsule) 2019 is deep, pure, fresh, fine and substantial on the nose, revealing rich and perfectly ripe (tropical) frui