Zilliken Butterfly Riesling Feinherb

The Zilliken family traces its wine growing tradition back to 1742. The early generations toiled in Saarburg and Ockfen, but it was Royal Prussian Forest Superintendent Ferdinand Geltz (1851 – 1925) who laid the groundwork for what would become one of the grandest family-owned estates anywhere on the Saar and Mosel.

Ferdinand Geltz was a co-founder of the “Vereins der Naturweinversteigerer Großer Ring,” an organisation today known as the VDP Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter). It promoted the sale of premier quality unchaptalised wines as a way to raise the profile, both domestically and internationally, of the outstanding Rieslings being produced in this wine growing region.

Hanno’s daughter Dorothee Zilliken pushed for the creation of this cuvee and it is proof that she will be a fine heir to the estate. This is a “feinherb” or medium-dry style, with grapes from Saarburger Rausch and Ockfener Beckstein, both incredible sites with beautiful slate soils.

Fermented in neutral Fuder barrels.

Grape Varieties: 100% Riesling

Food Match: Hanno suggests this with a picnic, cold summer soup or a slice of Mum’s apple pie. This is a customer favourite with sushi, too!

Tasting Notes: Fragrant aromas of apple, melon and apricot are layered with honeysuckle, wild rose, and savory herbs. The citrus brilliance of lemon and grapefruit set the heart and palate aflutter, while a balanced sweetness and graceful structure encourage this Riesling to soar. Drinking beautifully now, and will continue to develop in the coming years.

Sugar Level: 19.5g/l

Closure: Natural Cork

Awards: Robert Parker – 91-92 pts