In This Newsletter:
Off-Dry Molitor Riesling Sale
Nerd Alert Featurette: Cantine Lonardo
Half the Sweetness, All the Flavor
Up to 10% Off of Off-Dry Molitors
(It’s A Mouthful You’ll Love)
Off-Dry Molitor Riesling Sale
Nerd Alert Featurette: Cantine Lonardo
Half the Sweetness, All the Flavor
Up to 10% Off of Off-Dry Molitors
(It’s A Mouthful You’ll Love)
With broad holdings across of some of finest vineyards in the Mosel, Molitor crafts dozens of highly lauded Rieslings each vintage. He believes that every single sub-parcel and selective pick should be vinified to its utmost potential. The result is a deeply rewarding if sprawling portfolio.
An excellent way to explore this incredible portfolio is by focusing on the bone-dry Rieslings, known as “Trocken” in German. These contain no (or no perceptible) residual sugar. Molitor indicates the sweetness level by capsule color, and dry is white. This style is food-friendly yet also enjoyable as an aperitif.
One way that Molitor breaks down his selections is by sweetness level. Bottlings with a green capsule are off-dry (“feinherb”), landing somewhere in between the bone-dry trockens and the fully sweet “fruity” gold capsules. These off-dry Rieslings range from light and bright Kabinetts that offer only a hint of residual sugar, medium-bodied and crisp Spätlese wines, to the concentrated and powerful Auslese wines. None reach the sugary-sweetness of the gold capsule, nor are they as austere as the bone-dry. Instead, these manage to capture the energy and balance of both while bringing layers of complexity to offset your next meal. These are surprisingly flexible, with plenty of pairing potential beyond the cheese or dessert courses.
We offer thirteen off-dry wines from Molitor in stock now. Browse highlights below and shop the sale on our webstore now!
An excellent way to explore this incredible portfolio is by focusing on the bone-dry Rieslings, known as “Trocken” in German. These contain no (or no perceptible) residual sugar. Molitor indicates the sweetness level by capsule color, and dry is white. This style is food-friendly yet also enjoyable as an aperitif.
One way that Molitor breaks down his selections is by sweetness level. Bottlings with a green capsule are off-dry (“feinherb”), landing somewhere in between the bone-dry trockens and the fully sweet “fruity” gold capsules. These off-dry Rieslings range from light and bright Kabinetts that offer only a hint of residual sugar, medium-bodied and crisp Spätlese wines, to the concentrated and powerful Auslese wines. None reach the sugary-sweetness of the gold capsule, nor are they as austere as the bone-dry. Instead, these manage to capture the energy and balance of both while bringing layers of complexity to offset your next meal. These are surprisingly flexible, with plenty of pairing potential beyond the cheese or dessert courses.
We offer thirteen off-dry wines from Molitor in stock now. Browse highlights below and shop the sale on our webstore now!
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of bottles of Molitor’s Green Capsule wines
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Molitor’s Green Capsule wines
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Tuesday, April 29th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Molitor’s Green Capsule wines
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Tuesday, April 29th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer thirteen in-stock off-dry wines from Molitor (green capsule) on sale now, including:
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Molitor’s 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett (Green Capsule) opens pure and flinty on the deep and complex, very intense yet bright and fascinating, seductive and terroir-driven nose. Lush and round on the palate yet with salty-piquant and vibrantly fresh acidity, this is a structured, even somewhat tannic Kabinett to cellar for at least 2-3 more years. Very long and endlessly salty. Tasted in May 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $26.50, that’s $25.18 at 5% off and $23.85 at 10% off, 33 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Zeltinger Himmelreich Kabinett (Green Capsule) is beautifully clear, fresh and flinty on the complex and crunchy, slate-driven bouquet of bright fruits and crushed stones. On the palate, this is a mouth-filling, juicy, vibrantly fresh and crisp, stimulating and piquant Kabinett with gorgeous slatey grip and a salivating finish. A fabulous Kabinett from 40+-year-old Riesling vines. Tasted in May 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spätlese Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $29, that’s $27.55 at 5% off and $26.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Riesling Kinheimer Rosenberg Spätlese (Green Capsule) is very clear, fine and intense on the perfectly elegant and polished nose that is immediately attractive and complex. Round and juicy on the palate, this is a dense yet crystalline, precise and piquant Spätlese with the charming texture of very ripe Riesling berries and sweet marilles, yet its filigreed and sustainable structure leads to a long and intense finish. This is another impressive 2018 Rosenberg selection that shows how well the old vines in this terroir on deeper soils shine in the 2018s. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Auslese ** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Riesling Zeltinger Himmelreich Auslese ** (Green Capsule) is terribly fine, pure and fresh but also perfectly ripe and rich on the nose without losing precision. Round and highly elegant on the palate, with tropical fruit flavors and just the perfect amount of sweetness, this is a great, vital Himmelreich with superb finesse, purity, mineral tension and bright fruit notes in the long and beautifully slatey finish. This is a gorgeous, exciting Riesling—very stimulating.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2016 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** (Green Capsule) is deep and complex on the nose, though discreet in its fruit expression straight from the bottle. However, the fruit is beautifully flinty, fresh and really fine. Lush and round on the palate, this is a full-bodied, ripe and intense yet well-balanced and elegant Himmelreich whose sweetness of roughly 30 grams per liter is still prominent at this young age. However, the wine is intense, long, firmly structured, very mineral and provided with serious tannins and a lot of stones. I am tasting it far too early (and straight after the three-starred Rosenberg Auslese), but it’s a highly promising Riesling from a great vintage for the Mosel. Bottled in September 2017; tasted March 2018.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2017 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** (Green Capsule) is intensely yellow in color and, straight from the bottle, still has prominent smoky oak aromas but also highly intense yet refined fruit on the nose as it opens. This aromatic bouquet combines perfectly ripe and concentrated Riesling scents with the crunchy-coolish slate notes of the Himmelreich and, after a couple of days of aeration, adds concentrated lemon zest and pink grapefruit aromas. Rich and lush but highly elegant on the palate, this is a precise, finessed, nobly textured and juicy Himmelreich with very fine tannins and a long, complex and elegant finish. This is a nearly perfect, nearly dry Auslese, and the seamless texture makes this highly concentrated and refined Riesling flow down your throat without any effort. Give it air, give it time, give it years! This Auslese just flows. And one day, it will stay in your memories forever. Fabulous. Divine. Unforgettable. Tasted three times in April 2019.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “Typically bright and open on the nose, with crunchy and flinty slate aromas, the coolish and precise 2018 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** (Green Capsule) is a very fine and elegant, crystalline, fresh and precise, very long and salty Riesling with sweet and concentrated fruit and a long, intense and tightly structured finish. This is a laser-sword Riesling that needs about a decade to refine, yet it will deliver for sure. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2019 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** (Green Capsule) opens enormously deep, intense and complex on the nose that immediately indicates the wine is in an exceptional class on its own. Only with lots of aeration does the wine become more and more pure and fresh and develop a flinty lemon note with the finest perfume. On the palate, this is a rich, round and complex, sweet, wide and mouth-filling, very generous, free and easy-flowing Himmelreich of exceptional finesse and beauty. The finish is so stimulating, salty, pure and crunchy in its slate character, whereas the crater dug by the piquancy is filled in by the perfectly ripe and healthy fruit with lush intensity. The 2019 Himmelreich Auslese *** is sensational and the finest I have ever tasted from Markus Molitor. Tasted from AP 1 20 in May 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Riesling Kinheimer Rosenberg Auslese *** (Green Capsule) offers a super fine raisin and refreshing slatey/flinty bouquet that indicates great purity, finesse and crunchy/slatey freshness. The fermentation stopped at 34 grams of residual sugar per liter (11% alcohol), and the resulting wine is highly delicate, pure, lush and piquant on the palate. It is quite sweet and shows celery flavors as well as great tension that is neither rustic nor challenging but really fine, giving vibrancy, grip and energy to the lush and generous but always precise and elegant Riesling fruit. This is an exciting wine, and Markus filled it as a three-starred Auslese for the first time because he was convinced the wine deserves it. Tasted March 2018.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “From over 100-year-old vines and fermented in an eight-year-old 2,000-liter Stockinger vat and 15% in small oak barrels, the 2016 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Green Capsule) offers a deep and concentrated, terribly fresh and oaky nose. Round and lush on the palate, this is a very elegant, intense and refined Sonnenuhr with super lush fruit, very fine tannins and ripe acidity. Molitor is extremely proud of all his Sonnenuhr bottlings, but they demand a much longer period of bottle aging. The richness (which is still elegant and fine) and the oak flavors (which are discreet but present) will surely integrate, so the wine has huge potential. Bottled in September 2017; tasted March 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today by-the-bottle!
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2017 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Green Capsule) opens with an oaky, pretty Burgundian aroma, leading to a deep, pure, concentrated, wonderfully aromatic and elegant bouquet of subtle crunchy slate scents, great intensity and mineral freshness. This has a mind-blowing nose, and it gains more lime zest and lemon confit aromas as it takes more air. The palate is silky, lush and enormously piquant, with firm tannins and highly stimulating citrus concentration. This is a very rich, round, generous and beautifully concentrated Auslese with an endlessly juicy, salty-piquant, tensioned and crunchy finish. A sleeping giant, this three-starred Zeltinger Sonnenuhr is richer and sweeter than the glorious Graacher Himmelreich. For my taste, it needs at least 10 years in the cellar, but for many readers, this will already be perfect to drink today. Tasted four times in March and April 2019.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $125, that’s $118.75 at 5% off and $112.50 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “The intensely golden-yellow colored 2019 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Green Capsule) opens with a deep, enormously rich and concentrated but also precise, fresh and flinty bouquet of ripe, tropical fruits intertwined with lemon aromas and very fine notes of crushed slate and, only initially, more than just a hint of very fine oak (3,000-liter foudres). Full-bodied, rich and perfectly round on the palate yet also with incredible finesse and elegance for this weight category, this is a dense and concentrated, firmly structured, vital, salty-mineral and finely tannic Sonnenuhr with a spectacularly dense core and an endlessly long, intense and energetic as well as aromatic finish. This is a dramatic Riesling and another highlight of the 2019 vintage in all of Germany. It comes highly recommended and is definitely a wine to keep for at least 10-15 years, even though it already tastes very attractive. Stimulatingly salty on the finish. From 120-year-old vines on very fine slate soils. Tasted from AP 59 20 in May 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Shop our thirteen feinherb Molitor selections now!
Nerd Alert Featurette:
Cantine Lonardo
Sandro Lonardo crafts some of the best values in powerful, Italian red wine. Based in Taurasi, he works primarily with the local Aglianico grape to produce wines that combine power and intensity with site-specific nuance that rival the best wines in Barolo and Brunello, yet without the high price.
The 2011s—a warm year that produced exceptionally powerful reds—have just entered their drinking windows, but will comfortably age for another decade. The 2012s on offer are full of energy. Snag at least two bottles, one for short term consumption and the other for longer aging. These prices will look laughably low in a few years.
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Coste, Taurasi DOCG 2011 750ml $69 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94+ points “Deep ruby. Floral nuances complicate the red and dark berry, ink, sweet spice and flinty aromas and flavors. Dense and seamless, showing a multilayered personality and remarkable complexity of flavor. Finishes very long and with repeating, lingering hints of ink and flint.”
The 2011s—a warm year that produced exceptionally powerful reds—have just entered their drinking windows, but will comfortably age for another decade. The 2012s on offer are full of energy. Snag at least two bottles, one for short term consumption and the other for longer aging. These prices will look laughably low in a few years.
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Coste, Taurasi DOCG 2011 750ml $69 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94+ points “Deep ruby. Floral nuances complicate the red and dark berry, ink, sweet spice and flinty aromas and flavors. Dense and seamless, showing a multilayered personality and remarkable complexity of flavor. Finishes very long and with repeating, lingering hints of ink and flint.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Taurasi Riserva DOCG 2011 750ml $119 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “The 2011 Taurasi Riserva pulls you close and holds your attention firm with its deeply alluring bouquet of crushed black cherries, plum sauce, autumnal spices, woodland herbs and hints of animal musk. This fills the palate with rich, pliant textures and ripe red and blue berries, as nervous acidity maintains wonderful freshness, and sweet notes of cinnamon, clove and tobacco form toward the close. There’s plenty of tannic grip here, yet it’s balanced by the 2011’s mix of opulent, concentrated fruit and contrasting sour citrus tones that resonate for what feels like a full minute. Even as you contemplate the experience, minerals, hints of iodine and rosy inner florals can still be sensed upon the palate. Make no mistake, this is a full-throttle expression of Taurasi, but it will win the hearts of collectors who enjoy a bigger and old-school style.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo ‘T 31’, Taurasi DOCG 2012 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The new T31 is from 100+ year old ungrafted vines on a mix of limestone and volcanic soils, elevage 3 years in tonneau with another 5 years aging in bottle.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Vigne d’Alto, Taurasi DOCG 2012 750ml $59 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Perfumed and loaded with finesse, this single-vineyard wine opens with enticing scents of violet, ripe black-skinned fruit, new leather and baking spice. Made with 60- to 100-year-old plants, the smooth, delicious palate delivers succulent Marasca cherry, plum, licorice and nutmeg framed in velvety tannins, making it one of the more elegant expressions of Taurasi out there. A mineral note energizes the lingering finish. Drink through 2032.”
Winery Note “(translated) The grapes come from around 70-100 year old vines…”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Shop our entire collection of Cantine Lonardo wines here!
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Elvio Cogno
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Elvio Cogno
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Elvio Cogno
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Elvio Cogno sale ends Sunday, April 27th at 9 am Pacific.