Discover the 2023 Rausch Riesling Spätlese from the Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken winery
The 2023 Zilliken Rausch Riesling Spätlese 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 100% hand-harvesting, the wine was matured in neutral Fuder casks. This delicately fruity, juicy, and engaging Saar Riesling from the Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken winery impresses with subtle, well-balanced acidity and a cool, stony minerality. On the palate, the Riesling Spätlese enchants with tropical charm, featuring notes of exotic melon and pineapple, juicy apricot, and ripe mango.
Rausch Spätlese 2023 – a wine and its values
- 8% alcohol
- 77.6 g/l residual sugar
- 9.2 g/l acidity
Zilliken Riesling – award-winning
- 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson
- 92+ points Mosel Fine Wines
- 94+ points John Gilman
The long finish reveals the concentration of this Riesling Spätlese. It feels weightless on the tongue. With a moderate alcohol content of 8%, it is an ideal companion for light dishes with chicken or fish, sushi or scallops, or spicy Asian cuisine. The Rausch Spätlese harmonizes with desserts such as pavlova with strawberries or blackberry pie. Although it delights even when young, it only reveals its full potential after 7-12 years of bottle aging. You can also find Spätlese from earlier vintages from the Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken winery in our cellar. Or you can practice patience, because the future of the Zilliken Riesling Spätlese 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 2023 wine year on the Saar
The mild spring awakened the vines early from their winter slumber. The dry weather conditions provided ideal conditions for a smooth flowering. In July and August, long-awaited rainfall provided the necessary water supply for the vines, allowing them to thrive vigorously. We began the selective hand-harvest as early as September 25, 2023 – which was unusually early.
Thanks to this elaborate manual labor, only the best grapes from our steep slopes reached the winery for pressing. The weather also cooperated during the harvest: cool nights and moderate daytime temperatures ensured that the grapes could retain their fresh acidity.
We were able to complete the harvest on October 18 – just in time before the persistent rain set in.