Parker about Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese 2011
Zilliken considers his 7.5% alcohol 2011 Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spatlese AP #3 -an example of all the concentration of sugar and flavor that healthy Riesling grapes can assimilate before the berries- skins become attenuated and they begin to shrivel.- Scents and luscious juiciness of apple, mango, Persian melon and pink grapefruit place this with one foot in the tropics and the other in the northerly climes. Suggestions of nut pastes pull in a confectionary direction while wet stone and green herbal essences add metaphorical cooling influence on a palate of utmost delicacy and levity, both subtly creamy and persistently refreshing. The generous 8,000 liters of this strikingly pure and buoyant exercise in residually sweet Riesling should be worth following through at least 2035 and are apt to reveal yet further nuanced complexity along the way.
Description
Land | Germany |
Region | Moselle |
Rebsorten | Riesling 100% |
Alkoholgehalt | 7.50% |
Füllstand | high fill |
Verschlußart | cork stopper |
Kennzeichnung | Contains sulphites |
Farbe | White |
Inverkehrbringer | Weingut Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken, Heckingstrasse 20, 54439 Saarburg, Germany |
Charakter | Sweet |
Servierempfehlung | Do not decant 8-10°C |
Trinkempfehlung | 2024 - 2042 |
Parker Punkte | 93 |
Jahrgang | 2011 |
Moselle, Germany 🇩🇪

Goes well with

Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese 2011

The Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese 2011 from the Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken winery impressively demonstrates how superbly aged Saar Rieslings gain depth, elegance, and complexity with age. The nose unfolds with an impressive array of aromas of candied citrus peel, ripe quince, yellow greengages, and juicy pineapple, underscored by delicate honey notes, a hint of chamomile, and a smoky slate minerality that perfectly reflects the Rausch terroir. On the palate, the Spätlese presents a fascinating balance between ripe fruit sweetness and vibrant, still youthful acidity, providing exceptional freshness and tautness. The delicate creaminess is permeated by an intense, almost salty minerality that lends the wine additional depth and excitement. Notes of caramelized grapefruit, candied ginger, and a hint of orange blossom accompany the long, crystal-clear finish, which lingers on delicate herbal and spicy notes. Despite its age, this wine is by no means tired; rather, it is incredibly vibrant and possesses immense aging potential. The low alcohol content of approximately 7.5% vol. creates a prancing lightness that makes it ideal both as a solo wine and as an excellent food accompaniment—for example, with Asian dishes, aged cheese, or fine shellfish. A magnificent example of a perfectly mature Saar Spätlese wine, whose best years may still be ahead of it.