2016 Markus Molitor, Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 3* Goldkapsel, Mosel

The 2016 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) indicates gorgeously ripe and lush Riesling fruit with very fine flinty slate aromas that add freshness, finesse and complexity. This nose is incredibly pure and precise and doesn't indicate any botrytis. The palate is highly elegant and fine but, at the same time, lush and salty with a highly delicate but persistent structure. The finish is mouthwatering and enormously stimulating. This Wehlener Sonnenuhr is another extremely digestible yet complex Auslese that you can drink in large amounts without getting bored or tired. The acidity is so delicate and fine here and lets this gold-capsuled Auslese dance over your palate. I just love it. Bottled September 2017; tasted March 2018. Stephan Reinhardt March 2018

Jellied and candied apple are garlanded in decadent lily. Hints of bruised apple skin supply aromatic and flavor contrast while remaining consistent with the themes of concentration and decay-by-botrytis. Nutty piquancy and an undertone of wet stone, unexpected in such a rich Auslese, add further intrigue on a soft, viscous palate, leading into a long, caramel-kissed finish that introduces a welcome hint of fresh apple juiciness, and whose sheer sweetness stops just short of becoming cloying.