2020 Weingut Markus Molitor Riesling Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese ** (White Capsule)

The 2020 Weingut Markus Molitor Riesling Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese ** (White Capsule) is a precision-crafted Mosel Riesling from one of Germany’s most celebrated steep-slope vineyards. The white capsule signifies a dry style in Molitor’s portfolio, offering remarkable concentration with an almost weightless elegance. Sourced from the prized Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr site, this Auslese ** showcases the intensity of late-harvest fruit while remaining focused, mineral and beautifully structured.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Riesling shines a luminous pale gold with green highlights, reflecting both its youth and purity. The nose is multi-layered and refined: ripe stone fruits like white peach and apricot are joined by juicy pear, citrus zest, fresh herbs and delicate floral notes, underpinned by a cool slate-driven minerality and a touch of smoky reduction that emerges with air. On the palate, the wine is tightly knit and crystalline, delivering an interplay of ripe fruit intensity and razor-like precision. Expect flavors of nectarine, lime, grapefruit pith and crunchy apple, supported by a deep vein of wet stone, salty minerality and subtle spice. The Auslese ** designation brings extra concentration and depth, but the dry style keeps everything brisk and focused rather than opulent. The acidity is vibrant and filigreed, stretching the finish out impressively long, with lingering citrus, herbs and slate. While already expressive in its youth, this 2020 has excellent aging potential; cellaring for 10–20 years (and likely beyond in optimal conditions) will allow the fruit, minerality and texture to knit together into even greater complexity.

Production
Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr is one of the Mosel’s most revered steep, south- to south-west-facing vineyards, planted on weathered Devonian slate that imparts both finesse and a distinctive mineral edge to the wines. The vines sit on dramatic slopes overlooking the Mosel River, benefiting from excellent sun exposure and the river’s moderating influence, which promotes long, slow ripening and intense flavor development. At Markus Molitor, harvesting is carried out meticulously by hand, often in multiple passes (selective harvesting) to pick only perfectly ripe, healthy berries at optimal ripeness levels for the Auslese ** classification. In the cellar, the grapes are gently pressed and the must is allowed to ferment with great care, using predominantly spontaneous (wild) yeasts in stainless steel and/or large traditional oak fuders, depending on the parcel and quality level. Temperature-controlled, slow fermentations preserve aromatics and detail, and the wine is aged on the fine lees to build texture and complexity, before being bottled under the white capsule designation to signal its dry style and Mosel-typical precision.

Food & Serving
This dry, concentrated Riesling pairs beautifully with refined, aromatic cuisine. Try it with delicate seafood such as scallops, lobster, or turbot, sushi and sashimi, or fine freshwater fish like trout with herbs and beurre blanc. It also shines alongside lightly spiced Asian dishes (e.g. ginger-scented steamed fish, Thai or Vietnamese cuisine with citrus and fresh herbs), white asparagus, poultry in cream or morel sauces, and elegant vegetable dishes featuring fennel, celery root or leeks. Serve well chilled, ideally at 8–10°C (46–50°F), in a high-quality white wine or Riesling glass. Decanting for 30–60 minutes in its youth can help the wine open up and release its full aromatic complexity; older bottles should be handled more gently, with minimal aeration.

Producer
Weingut Markus Molitor, based in the heart of the Mosel, is one of Germany’s benchmark estates and a leading voice in the renaissance of classic Mosel Riesling. Founded in 1984 when Markus Molitor took over his family’s holdings at a young age, the winery has grown to encompass an impressive collection of steep, slate-rich vineyards along the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer, including some of the region’s most historic sites. Molitor is renowned for his meticulous vineyard work, extremely selective harvesting and commitment to expressing terroir through an unusually broad range of Rieslings that span dry, off-dry and nobly sweet styles, identified by his signature white, green and gold capsule system. The estate has earned international acclaim and top scores from leading critics, solidifying its reputation as a reference point for age-worthy, terroir-driven Rieslings that capture the Mosel’s unique combination of intensity, finesse and slate-mineral character.

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