This medium-dry wine captures the ethereal “floats like a butterfly” character of Zilliken Rieslings at an entry-level price. Bright and juicy, with moderate alcohol, this butterfly soars high on citrus and floral wings. Playful, tangy flavors of lime and granny smith apple are heightened with refreshing accents of lemon balm, with a zesty, zippy finish.

Like the song says: summertime and the Riesling is easy. This is the fruity (“lieblich”) counterpart to the Butterfly Riesling. Pretty flavors of citrus and orchard fruits drift like a lazy raft on a summer lake while the crisp acidity balances the fruitiness and keeps the wine nearly weightless as it floats across the palate. Long, meandering finish of lemon zest and apple tart.

Maturity is the glory of years, they say, and it’s proven once again in this focused, dry Riesling of cool purpose and slate-driven momentum. Ancient Riesling vines ranging from 60 to 130 years evoke aromas of summer flowers, orange blossom, apricot and lime. This linear beauty walks a taut line of citrus and herbal spice with razor sharp acidity.

Produced with early harvested fruit from estate vines in the town of Saarburg, this village-level Riesling Kabinett exhibits the ethereal delicacy that is a hallmark of the Zilliken estate.

The estate’s top dry wine from the best parcel of the Rausch vineyard. Delicate aromas of ripe melon, lemon curd and meadow flowers and a cool herbal austerity open a nose of breathtaking beauty and elegance. Deep, refined orange, passion fruit and candied lemon dance across the nearly vertical palate, while the grippy texture is redeemed by a pliable, persistent acidity.

The sleek, modern lines of elegantly balanced fruits skate seamlessly from vineyard peach to pineapple to melon and back, accented with a delicate spice and grassy herbality. But it's the lithe minerality and almost velvety texture that truly steal the show. A vibrating acidity binds the individual pieces together into a beautiful cohesive whole and linger into a long, grapefruit finish.

Grown in the steep, slate slopes of the historic Rausch vineyard, this Kabinett entices with a stunning blend of filigreed mystery and finesse. Delicate aromas dance from ripe apple and grapefruit to lemon verbena and wild mint on the smoky slate foundation for which the Rausch is known. The sprightly character continues on the palate, playing peek-a boo from beneath gauzy layers of fruit, herbal elegance and spice. Balanced juiciness with great grip, crisp acidity and a long, lingering lemon finish. Still quite young but the future ahead is bright and beautiful.

Fruit driven finesse is marked with a delicate florality in this late-picked Riesling. Notes of vineyard peach, grapefruit, juicy lemon and ripe passion fruit come together on a creamy, concentrated palate rich with melon and candied lemon peel. Stunning exchange of racy acidity and layered sweetness together form a perfectly poised whole. The long, juicy finish and fantastic vintage hint at a beautiful future yet to come.

The stunning, unmistakable complexity of exotic fruit aromas and smoky minerality enhanced with fragrant lily and rose accents could only ever be from the steep slate slopes of the Rausch. Clarion flavors so exceptionally pure that each one seems to fall from the wine like a ripe piece of fruit into a waiting hand. A focused acidity cuts through the richness like a fog light on a stormy Atlantic night. It will reward a considerable cellaring.