2018 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Rotlay Riesling Auslese
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Rotlay is intense yet fine and coolish on the deep, fresh, aromatic, flinty and beautifully greenish nose. Picked at 118° to 120° Oechsle, this is a rich, mouth-filling, very charming, elegant, textured and finely salty terroir wine with lingering salinity and riper, more elegant acidity compared to the Schmitt, which comes from the second terrace behind the church. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.
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Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
David Schildknecht, Vinous
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Linden, heliotrope, quince and apple in jellied as well as fresh form are effusively evoked on the nose, and the creamy palate offers corresponding billowing inner-mouth perfume, confitured richness but also freshness of fruit, reflecting the healthy and marginally less ripe (i.e., not overripe!) bunches that were included in this en bloc harvest. The lusciously and seductively lingering finish preserves creaminess, refreshing juiciness and floral perfume while introducing an invigorating lick of cinnamon and a nibble of fresh ginger. All of this is underscored by a slightly more prominent sweetness than generally exhibited by Selbach-Oster “Rotlay” bottlings, a phenomenon doubtless attributable to lower-than-usual acidity. But the sweetness suits the wine’s personality, and never dominates.