Rausch Riesling Auslese 2018 – Weingut Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken
The 2018 Zilliken Rausch Riesling Auslese is a fruit-sweet, graceful Riesling from the VDP.GROSSE LAGE "Saarburger Rausch". The grapes grow on a soil formation characterized by Devonian slate and diabase; after being 100% hand-harvested, the wine was aged in neutral Fuder casks. Such an impressive, unmistakable complexity of exotic fruit aromas and smoky minerality, accentuated by fragrant notes of lily and rose, could only come from the steep slate slopes of the Rausch. The crystal-clear aromas of this Riesling Auslese feel so pure that each one seems as if it could fall out of the wine and into your outstretched hand like a ripe fruit. A purposeful acidity cuts through the richness like the beam of a lighthouse guiding ships safely into harbor on a stormy Atlantic night. Considerable aging time will be rewarded.
Rausch Auslese 2018 – a wine and its values
- 8% alcohol
- 103.5g/l residual sugar
- 6.6g/l acidity
Zilliken Riesling – award-winning
- 94 points Robert Parker
- 94 points Falstaff
- 94 points Vinum
- 93 points John Gilman
- 97 points Gault Millau
The long finish reveals the concentration of this Riesling Auslese. On the tongue, it feels weightless. With a moderate alcohol content of 8%, it is an ideal companion to game or foie gras terrines; once aged, this Riesling Auslese pairs well with spicy Asian dishes or sweet desserts without too much acidity. And, of course, with aged cheeses made from cow's, goat's, or sheep's milk. Even though it is delightful when young, it only shows its full potential after 10–20 years of bottle aging. We also have aged Rieslings from Weingut Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken in our cellar that have already reached a more advanced stage of maturity. Or, you can practice patience, as the future of this Zilliken Riesling Auslese looks bright.
Incidentally, our cellar is cooled in summer and warmed in winter by a geothermal heat pump powered by a photovoltaic system, ensuring the wine can mature optimally.
The 2018 wine year on the Saar
2018 was a "summer of the century" in Germany with countless hours of sunshine. It was a sunny summer without extreme heat, which meant the vines—which had enjoyed abundant rain in May—suffered no drought stress. Due to the consistently sunny weather, the harvest began unusually early, on September 24th. "The vineyards were rarely so full of such golden grapes," Dorothee Zilliken tells us. The magnificent autumn allowed for individual berry selection for noble sweet Rieslings, such as this Riesling Auslese. The dry Rieslings from 2018 are juicy, mineral-driven, and accessible—tropical aromas paired with classic Saar elegance.