Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese
Wine Profile & Character
The Wehlener Sonnenuhr, marked by its iconic sundial above the river, remains the spiritual heartland of Mosel Riesling, and no estate expresses its character with more restraint and precision than Joh. Jos. Prüm. The vineyard’s blue Devonian slate radiates stored warmth back into the vines through the cool Mosel evenings, while its steep, amphitheater-like exposure toward the river captures maximum sunlight even in marginal years. Prüm’s non-interventionist philosophy—minimal cellar manipulation, indigenous yeast tendencies, and extended lees contact—allows the site’s mineral signature to speak with clarity rather than being obscured by winemaking artifice. In 2018, a warm, generous vintage, botrytis developed unevenly but favorably on the slate terraces, permitting the selective, multiple-pass harvesting that Beerenauslese demands.
The nose opens with a heady mix of dried apricot, orange blossom honey, and saffron, layered beneath a cool undertow of wet slate and lime blossom that keeps the wine from tipping into pure opulence. On the palate, the texture is unctuous yet weightless, a hallmark of Prüm’s style—viscous without heaviness, buoyed by a piercing 9.5 g/L acidity that cuts through the 150 g/L residual sugar with surgical precision. Flavors unfold in waves: candied quince, dried mango, chamomile, and a faint smoky minerality that lingers beneath the sweetness, never allowing the fruit to become cloying.
This is a wine built for the long haul. At just 8% alcohol, its low-alcohol architecture combined with searing acidity and immense sugar creates the internal tension necessary for decades of transformation. Over the next 15-20 years, the primary apricot and honey notes will deepen into notes of dried fig, beeswax, and toasted hazelnut, while the mineral spine will sharpen with age, a clear demonstration of the site’s slate-derived precision.
Sourced Profile
Compiled from producer and published descriptions, not a firsthand tasting by our team.
Appearance: Deep golden yellow with a faint greenish rim, brilliantly clear with a viscous, almost oily meniscus that clings to the glass.
Aromas & Bouquet: An intense bouquet of dried apricot, honeyed orange peel, and saffron threads, layered with lime blossom and a cool mineral undertow reminiscent of wet slate. With aeration, notes of quince paste and chamomile emerge, framed by a faint smoky nuance characteristic of botrytis-affected fruit.
Palate & Structure: Unctuous yet buoyant, the palate carries immense sweetness balanced by searing, almost electric acidity. Layers of candied mango, dried fig, and honeycomb unfold gradually, interwoven with a persistent slate minerality that prevents any sense of heaviness. The mid-palate shows remarkable tension, a hallmark of Prüm's precise, low-intervention style.
Finish & Longevity: The finish is extraordinarily long, saline, and mineral-driven, with residual sweetness lingering alongside notes of dried citrus peel and stone. A faint phenolic grip provides structure, ensuring the wine finishes clean rather than cloying.
Food Pairings
Pair with a mature Roquefort or aged Stilton, where the wine's acidity and sweetness balance the cheese's salinity and richness. Foie gras terrine with quince compote mirrors the wine's dried fruit and honeyed tones. For dessert, a light apricot tart or crème brûlée echoes its stone fruit and caramelized notes without competing for sweetness. Alternatively, serve simply with fresh lychee or ripe mango as a minimalist, fruit-forward pairing.
Cellaring & Ageability
Drinking window: 2025-2050. Expect the primary apricot and honey character to evolve into deeper notes of dried fig, beeswax, and toasted nuts, with the mineral backbone becoming increasingly pronounced as the wine ages.