Markus Molitor in the Sonnenuhr vineyard
Markus Molitor wines
Markus Molitor
Markus Molitor took control of the family winery in 1984 at the age of 20. Steeped in eight generations of tradition, the Molitor winery is one of the largest run family wineries in the Mosel, with Markus Molitor’s wife, Verena, and his father, Werner, working alongside him. The winery is situated in the Middle Mosel and currently holds 38 hectares of vineyard. 94% of the vineyard is planted with Riesling, 3% with Pinot Noir and 3% with Pinot Blanc.
Markus trained as a winemaker and is personally responsible for both the vineyards and the cellar. He has a clearly defined vision, to create unmistakable Riesling wines which remain true to their individual vineyard and achieve extreme longevity.
With parts of the vineyards having an 80% gradient, most of the picking work is done by hand and the grapes are generally picked very late in order to ensure that the acidity is rounder and less aggressive. Markus achieves a complex character in his wines through temperature controlled fermentation, preferring cooler temperatures, resulting in a long, slow fermentation, often lasting into the summer following the harvest. He also practises traditional filtration whereby fining agents, enzymes or other additives are strictly not used. Maturation involves both stainless steel tanks and neutral oak barrels. Markus believes that all wine should spend some time in oak and he is expanding his cellar so he can move more barrels in.
In addition to a range of dry wines, including a Riesling Spätlese Trocken from the famous Sonnenuhr vineyard, Markus Molitor also produces a number of sweet wines. Starting in 1988 the winery has become a specialist in the art of strict grape selection, producing a unique unbroken series of sixteen vintages of Trockenbeerenauslese wines in succession with the 2003 vintage achieving a world record must weight. Similarly, since 1986 Markus Molitor has produced at least one Eiswein each year, and sometimes two or even more, with the exception of 1997.
Markus Molitor’s wines have won a number of awards including Wine Spectator’s highest rated Spätlese from the Mosel in March/April 2006.
Markus Molitor wines are imported into the UK by Boutinot Ltd (www.boutinot.com).
More information regarding the winery can be found on www.markusmolitor.com.
