2015 Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Riesling Grosses Gewachs
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Tasting notes
At 12.5 percent alcohol, this selection from old vines is significantly fuller-bodied than its 2014 counterpart, an amplitude that underscores a vivid sense of extract and stony, smoky mineral suffusion. But for all of its stuffing and textural richness, this bottling is dominated by brightly, infectiously juicy white peach and grapefruit. A pungent savor reminiscent of crab-shell reduction adds mouthwatering appeal, while an astonishingly resonant and gripping finish introduces the piquancy, bite and glow of grapefruit peel, peach kernel and black peppercorn. I had my doubts when the Zillikens launched Grosse Gewächse in 2009, but they have certainly mastered the art of rendering rich, profound dry Riesling.
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2015 (Saarburg) Rausch Riesling GG is very ripe, intense and concentrated on the nose, with lemon aromas. Full-bodied, fine and elegant, this is a rich, intense and powerful Riesling with a long, slightly alcoholic finish. The 2015 needs some years in the bottle to show its real class.
From the start, the fragrance of the Rausch leaves no doubt that despite aromas of exotic fruit and a delicate honeyed notion, freshness still remains of the essence. Although the shoulders of the Grosses Gewächs are a bit broader and the texture a little richer than in preceding vintages, the customary racy edge is not lacking, perfectly complemented by some tangy citrus notes and a fine, stony minerality. Animating, generous and generally delightful. (MS)