Germany’s Most Awarded Winemaker
There is one word that can sum up the wines crafted by Markus Molitor. That word is iconic. These wines embody precision, complexity, purity, and longevity. With painstaking quality-driven measures at every step and grapes sourced from some of the most famous vineyards in the country, these wines are among the top expert rated wines in Germany.
This Offering, Opiminan Members can finally get their hands on Markus Molitor’s truly amazing and unique collection during the Web Pop-Up. It is not everyday that we can add such superb white wines to our cellar from Grand Cru Vineyards alongside the meticulous crafting for each step. In 2015, Markus Molitor’s fame grew when esteemed wine critic Robert Parker scored three of his Rieslings a perfect 100 points. This resulted in the winemaker gaining the nickname of “Herr 300 Punkte” (Mr 300 Points). These wines are famous worldwide for their ageability and quality, but also their appreciation of value. Many of Markus Molitor’s wines sell for far above initial cost at auction. For example, the 2017 Markus Molitor Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese Trocken increased in value from almost $1200 to $2000 USD in just one year. That is not to say that we should not enjoy a bottle in its youth, however, be sure to store a couple away to open when the time is just right!
Markus Molitor is an 8th generation winemaker who has a belief that his wines need to be of the utmost quality level, and they must be expressive of the unique terroir the grapes are grown on. 75% of his vineyard area are from Grand Cru vineyards in the Mosel. The Mosel Valley is one of the most famous wine regions in Germany due to its astonishingly steep slopes, making it optimal for slow ripening of the grapes to retain acidity but also to ensure phenolic ripeness. The slate soil in the Mosel ensures ideal drainage and heat retention that are beneficial for ripening in cooler vintages. Additionally, his commitment to sustainable, biodynamic, and organic viticulture showcases his pledge for the highest quality in winemaking.
There are many factors explaining why Markus Molitor wines are of outstanding quality, making white wine collector excited. Markus Molitor’s grapes are grown in some of the most revered vineyards in Germany, including Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Wehlener Klosterberg, Graacher Himmelreich, and Brauneberger. The grapes must be harvested by hand, and only the crème de la crème make it into his wines. Not only that, but a significant proportion of his vines are quite old – some approximately 100 years old, thus producing a small yet high quality crop. Another reason to give this wine a try is the delicious ripeness to acidity balance. The grapes chosen are allowed to ripen late into the year due to the cool Mosel climate and to promote as much ripeness and acid retention as possible. These grapes ferment slowly over months in barrel, promoting the complexity and longevity that Molitor wines are known for.
It is unquestionable that Markus Molitor’s grape growing, and winemaking techniques encourage longevity and quality in his wines. 94% of the grapes grown by Markus Molitor are Riesling, a grape world-renowned for prized characteristics. Riesling is a favourite among wine experts and enthusiasts alike, and for good reason. It is a grape that transforms with bottle age with notes of ginger, nuts, and honey. Additionally, its bracingly high acidity allows it to be cellared for decades and to be paired with numerous dishes. It also has many faces in terms of sweetness and ripeness levels. For German wines, this ranges from the lightest, Kabinett, to Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese, the ripest and sweetest of them all. The genius cap colour coding helps us determine the sweetness levels for his wines. The white cap is for his dry wines, the green colour for the off-dry and the gold for the sweet and botrytis wines. The stars on the label is for quality levels, with three stars being Markus Molitor’s reflection of a perfect Riesling! All Riesling lovers should have Markus Molitor’s wines in their cellars for the quality, longevity, and versatility.
This is a rare chance for Opimian members to acquire these “brag-worthy” magnificent white wines, so make room in your cellar as you have some truly outstanding wines coming your way!
To read the full tasting notes, Markus Molitor Web Popup PDF
