Description

The Zilliken family have farmed in Saarburg in the winding Saar Valley since 1742, the winery is currently run by Dorothee Zilliken, though her father Hanno is still involved. Their wines are fermented and aged slowly in their deep, cool, damp cellar in Saarburg in old oak 1000 litre foudres, no stainless steel or concrete eggs here, its real old school. The results are a stunning range of wines which are not to be missed, these wines cellar beautifully and are well worth tucking away for the full experience.

They own half of the imposing south facing 22 hectare Rausch vineyard, overlooking Saarburg, the wide range of soils, mostly slate over volcanic diabase rock, give vibrant minerality and acidity.  The vines are some of the oldest in the Mosel, some 70 years old and a plot of ungrafted vines which are more than 130 years old.

This fine Spätlese enchants with its long-lasting tropical notes. The scent of pineapple, passion fruit, and vineyard peach are present in the nose. The taste, which captivates with its elegance, is reminiscent of ripe yellow stone fruit and pineapple. A developed acidity gives the Riesling its animating freshness. Very long, invigorating finish. Beautifully balancing the 86.4 g/l of residual sugar with 6.9 g/l of total acidity and 8% Alcohol, aided by the Saar’s cool climate one of the last places to pick in Germany.

On a memorable visit there recently, I tried the same wine at 10 years older, stunning… age adds so much complexity to these wines and I kicked myself for not tucking some away before!