2018 Saarburger Rausch Auslese (3 Star) GrK
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Tasting notes
Molitor's 2018 Riesling Saarburger Rausch Auslese ** (Golden Capsule) is pretty unchanging at this stage, with a pure and phenolic bouquet of rather greenish or steely slate aromas. Lush yet pure and salty on the palate, this is a classy, concentrated and currently astringent Auslese with lime chutney aromas on the finish. The wine is concentrated, structured and fresh yet needs at least a decade to start. This was more impressive when tasted a year ago, but it's going through a valley now, which could possibly last for two or three years. Very steely and salty on the finish yet with no finesse right now. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
David Schildknecht, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The first whiff here reveals Rausch-typical suggestions of dusty crushed stone and wood smoke. Ripe pear, quince and mango then mingle with lime and grapefruit for a colorful aromatic and inner-mouth exhibition that beautifully projects the animating acidity one hopes for from Saar Riesling even in nobly sweet garb. A glossy, glycerol-rich palate impression reinforces the wine’s luscious fruitiness. The buoyant, penetrating finish offers tongue-tingling animation of citrus zest along with striking transparency to those same site-typically smoky and stony notes that were announced on the nose. I predict that this will prove a superb keeper.
About the producer
Markus Molitor is now among the largest privately owned wine estates in the Mosel and also one of the best. With a focus on single-vineyard expressions, the estate produces between 80 and 90 different wines each vintage.