Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken – Rausch Riesling Kabinett
The 2022 Zilliken Rausch Riesling Kabinett is a fruit-sweet Riesling from the VDP. Grosse Lage vineyard Saarburger Rausch. This delicately fruity, juicy, and inviting Saar Riesling from the Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken estate, produced in 2022—an excellent vintage for Kabinett Rieslings—is characterized by a vibrant interplay between fruit and acidity. Delicate aromas of tropical and local fruits, white peach, and ripe Williams pear meet grapefruit, mango, and apricot, all supported by an elegant layer of slate smoke. Juicy on the palate, with lively acidity and hints of subtle herbal notes. Yet, do not be deceived: the full power of the Rausch site reveals itself in the calm richness, deep minerality, and persistent character of this single-vineyard Riesling.
Zilliken Rausch Kabinett 2022 – a wine and its specifications
- 8.5% alcohol
- 58 g/l residual sugar
- 6.6 g/l acidity
With a moderate alcohol content of 8.5%, it is an ideal companion for light dishes with chicken or fish, sushi or scallops, or spicy Asian cuisine. Although it is impressive even when young, it only truly displays its full potential after 5-10 years of bottle aging. You can also find aged Rieslings from the Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken estate from previous vintages here with us.
Incidentally, our cellar is cooled in summer and heated in winter by a geothermal heat pump powered by a photovoltaic system, allowing the wine to mature optimally. The 2011 Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Rausch Riesling Kabinett was awarded 92 points by Gault Millau, and the 2017 vintage was awarded 93 points, with both being named the best Kabinett of the year!
2022 – the wine year on the Saar
Dorothee Zilliken fondly recalls the ice-cold winter of the 2022 wine year, as it gave nature the opportunity to rest. In the cool spring, vegetation awoke only slowly. Fortunately, this meant that the frost at the beginning of April caused no damage to the vines, as they had not yet budded. The summer of 2022 was also rather cool, which required a great deal of work to create an airy canopy. But this investment in grape quality paid off. After a beautiful late summer, the harvest began in good weather on October 11th and produced healthy grapes, allowing for both Grosses Gewächs and noble sweet wines to be vinified from grand cru sites. The 2022 Saar Rieslings from the Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken estate are elegant and classic, with a maximum of finesse and expressiveness.