Domäne Serrig – Markus Molitor Riesling ‘Vogelsang’ Grosse Lage 2020

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

About Domäne Serrig

Founded in 1904 by Kaiser Wilhelm II., it stood as the largest and most avantgarde state domain of its time. Domäne Serrig is well on the way to returning to this golden era under the ownership of Markus Molitor

It served as an iconic representation of state viticulture for numerous decades for the Saar region until it went into decline, along with many other German state domains, by the 1970s and was eventually privatised at the end of the 1980s. The potential of its singular and exceptional terroir remained largely unfulfilled.

The historic Domäne Serrig winery in the Saar was acquired by Markus Molitor in 2016. Since then, a remarkable transformation has been underway, led personally by Markus. In keeping with the historically anchored concept of quality, he restructured the 25-hectare, contiguous steep Vogelsang slope and has been renovating the cellar and sales premises since 2017.

“It was, in fact, a unique opportunity to purchase a contiguous 25-hectare site of unique quality”

“Never before in the history of the Mosel region, even better, in that of German viticulture, has there been such an opportunity to purchase such a sizeable monopole site possessing all the best attributes of a grand cru.”

Molitor

The Molitor Factor

When you dig a little into Molitor’s wine philosophy it’s clear he has the justified confidence in his convictions to take on this special challenge in the Saar Valley.

At his Mosel winery, Molitor has moved against the German Pradikat making wines to his own code!

Molitor chooses his own picking points for each style, Kabinett, Spätlese, Auseles etc, and ferments them to residual sugar levels that make exceptional balanced, harmonious wines. The results are divine!

You’ll find Auslese & Kabinett wines that are Dry, equally you’ll find the same as fruit sweet, rich wines.

Taste a suite of his wines and it is clear Molitor has a fine sense for balance, harmony and vinosity. Vinosity you say, think the difference between fruit juice and fully fermented white table wine. The table wine is winey, it has vinosity. His “focus is on the harmonious taste and balance of the wine which cannot be determined solely by analysis of residual sugar content and total acidity”. Instead, the colour of the capsule indicates the style and respective flavour profile of his Rieslings: white represents classically fermented dry wines; green is feinherb, the historical medium-dry style of Mosel wines; gold indicates richer, nobly sweet wines, including berry-selection styles Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese.

Flip to the vineyard and you’ll learn Molitor has been working vineyards from 8 years of age expanding the Mosel estate from 1.5 Ha to 120 Ha. The exposure to such diversity of quality sites and viticulture, and, the need to rehabilitate run-down vineyards on great sites gives a unique insight that will only accelerate the rehabilitation of the Serrig vineyard.

We have much to look forward to in watching the Domäne Serrig over the coming decades!

The mission is to evoke the golden age of Saar wine from the early 20th century. Only two wines are produced to prioritise the quintessential qualities of Saar: exemplary dry wines and the gentle, subtly fruity Kabinett.

Steep slate incline with gradients reaching up to 105%. Positioned facing the south/southwest, at elevations ranging from 220–340 a.s.l. The region enjoys a cool microclimate which allows for extended ripening periods. This results in wines with moderate alcohol levels of 10–12% vol, yet they retain a profound richness. 2020 vintage is the first release after the reopening.

“The cool climate in this classic steep slate slope allows for a long vegetation period that brings forth wines of moderate alcohol levels between 10 and 12% and aromatic abundance. This combination of lightness and animation, paired with expressive, almost salty minerality, is unique and inimitable,”

Molitor

Even though they have been produced since 2017, the 2020 Rieslings from the steep Vogelsang site in Serrig (Saar) are the first that Markus Molitor has brought to market under the name “Ehemalige Domäne Serrig.”

The two 2020s—Kabinett and Grosse Lage (Grand Cru), which were handpicked, pressed on the basket press, fermented spontaneously and aged in large wooden barrels—are of terrific quality and style, suggesting that wines will continue to be made here that can rival those of Egon Müller in quality, the previous untouchable icon not only of the Saar.

Kabinett (feinherb style) and Grosse Lage (dry or off-dry) are always produced at Molitor’s Domäne Serrig; predicates such as Auslese or even Trockenbeerenauslesen are produced only when the vintage allows it and the very highest qualities are achieved. The next vintage after the 2020s, which are about to be released, will be the 2021s (probably in the fall of 2024). It is probably not exaggerated to assume that here in the cool Saar, a completely renewed German Riesling flagship is just setting course.

In the Vineyard

The terroir = Vogeslang. This is a monopole, which has just emerged from Vogelsang and Heiligenborn. Only five hectares of old stock Molitor found worth preserving, the remaining 20 hectares he has replanted since 2017 with high-quality genetics (different massal selections).

Unique 25-hectare plot situated on a steep reddish coloured slate incline with gradients reaching up to 105%.

Positioned facing the south/southwest, at elevations ranging from 220–340 a.s.l.

The region enjoys a cool microclimate which allows for extended ripening periods. This results in wines with moderate alcohol levels of 10–12% vol, yet they retain a profound richness.

In the Winery

“It is our mission to contribute to the renaissance of Saar wines.”

“In doing so, we focus on the DNA of the Saar Valley: great dry wines and filigree, finely fruited Kabinett – two wines from the incomparable terroir of the Serriger Vogelsang.”

Molitor

Harvesting: Hand-Harvest in mid-October, ensuring that only 100% healthy grapes were selected.

Processing: Grapes were gently pressed and underwent several hours of maceration.

Fermentation: Slow and cool spontaneous fermentation.

Grosse Lage

Aging: Matured on the lees inside 3000l Stockinger wooden barrels for a span of 10 months, followed by an additional two years of bottle aging.

Kabinett

Aging: Matured on the lees for 10 months within stainless-steel tanks, followed by an additional two years of bottle aging.

The 2020 Vintage at Domäne Serrig

Where in the World is Domäne Serrig?

Domäne Serrig is located in the Saar Valley, a smaller tributary that runs off the Mosel river in Germany. You find Serrig near in the south of the Saar.