Zilliken

Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken
 was established in 1742. Maintenance of traditions and the high standards of the estate’s wines have had a strong influence on the work of Hanno Zilliken, the cellar master here since 1976 and proprietor since 1981. The estate have the deepest cellar on the Saar, with three levels below ground, and the wines are fermented and matured in German oak under optimum aging conditions. The natural humidity content is so high that stalactites are growing from the ceiling. For Hanno, though, the work in the cellar is secondary. He believes “the complete potential is within the vineyard itself. No wine can ever surpass what the soil, the vine and climate give it.” These Saarburger wines exhibit a subtle “dusty” terroir character when young, incredible fineness of detail, gentle textures and excellent aging potential.  
The word on 2008: Harvest started on Oct. 10 and ended the last day of Oct—on the exact day the rain started. Weightless, beautiful wines here in 2008; no noble sweets, but consequently there is fantastic material in the Kabinett and Spatlese. These are the lowest alcohols in the portfolio: 7.5%

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