Zilliken, Mosel (Germany) Riesling Trocken 2020

 German Rieslings from the 2020 vintage have been shining on my tasting bench this summer, showing wonderfully open, juicy flavors and excellent internal balance.  This bottle shows another side of the vintage, namely, its capacity for also producing taut, age-worthy wines that can unwind and improve for many years.  This won’t hit its apogee for another five years, and though there’s a lot of subjectivity involved in when a German wine is at its “apogee,” I doubt that many lovers of these wines would taste this now without wishing they hadn’t waited to open their bottle.  However, if the bottle happened to belong to someone else, I have no doubt that any Riesling lover would enjoy a crack at it right now.  The fruit recalls green apples and barely ripe peaches, with interesting mineral undertones that will become more prominent as this loosens up.  Acidity figures very prominently in the finish, and there’s not too much of it for me to enjoy this thoroughly right now, but I’m sure you’ve caught the idea that this is best bought now and enjoyed in a few years.