Saarburger Rausch Grosses Gewachs, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken 2015

The 2015 Rausch Grosses Gewächs from the Zillikens is a dynamite young wine and destined to be one of the finest vintages of GG yet produced from this superb estate. The bouquet offers up a youthfully complex constellation of tart orange, grapefruit, wild yeasts, a beautifully complex base of slate minerality, the vintage’s signature botanicals and a topnote of lime peel. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish, pure and absolutely seamless, with a fine core, excellent focus and nascent complexity, ripe acids and perfect balance on the very long, still quite primary finish. A beautiful GG in the making.

From the start, the fragrance of the Rausch leaves no doubt that despite aromas of exotic fruit and a delicate honeyed notion, freshness still remains of the essence. Although the shoulders of the Grosses Gewächs are a bit broader and the texture a little richer than in preceding vintages, the customary racy edge is not lacking, perfectly complemented by some tangy citrus notes and a fine, stony minerality. Animating, generous and generally delightful.

This offers a gorgeously complex and precise nose of grapefruit, ginger, star anise and minty herbs. The wine is nicely smooth and delicately zesty on the palate and leaves a gorgeous feel of tart fruitiness. The fruit-infused finish seems endless. This is a gorgeously elegant dry Riesling in the making which plays on finesse rather than power. Give it a few years and it will blossom handsomely! 2018-2025.