2016 Markus Molitor, Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese (3 stars), Mosel

Markus Molitor's uncompromising dedication to vineyard health and meticulous hand-selection on the steep, south-facing Wehlener Sonnenuhr yields Rieslings of profound site expression. The vineyard's ancient blue Devonian slate soils impart a distinct stony minerality, ensuring wines with raciness and exceptional structural integrity. Molitor’s precise winemaking, involving natural yeast fermentation in large oak fuder and extended lees aging, shapes this three-star Auslese into a wine of concentrated depth and refined texture. The 2016 Mosel vintage, characterized by an ideal late summer and autumn after a challenging spring, allowed for optimal physiological ripeness and delivered ripe, juicy acidity that provides tension and balance to the Auslese's inherent richness.