2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
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Tasting notes
Full bottle 1,203 g. Wikipedia says, 'iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear to gradually change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Examples of iridescence include soap bubbles, feathers, butterfly wings and seashell nacre, as well as certain minerals. It is often created by structural coloration (microstructures that interfere with light)'. When we lived in Norway, we were lucky enough to see nacreous clouds , watching them for several hours as they played, almost dolphin-like, in the sky. The beauty of them was indescribable. We glowed from inside out for days, just living off the memory of the intensity of those colours. The pearl lustre of the sky. It felt truly out of this world. This wine is iridescent, nacreous, butterfly wings and pearls and glowing and mineral. One mouthful, and I feel the glow. Opal luminous, flecked with the silver sharps of Mosel Riesling acidity. I will wake up tomorrow with the memory of this wine like a vintage pearl teaspoon against my cheek. (TC)
Critic scores
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Another brilliant value is the 2016 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, a dessert-styled effort that has a monster bouquet of sugared lime, mint, and citrus, with a sweet grapefruit-like note developing with time in the glass. Possessing balancing minerality and acidity, beautiful purity, and a layered, incredibly impressive texture, it’s another gem of a wine to seek out.
The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (AP 13 17) is clear, fresh and vegetal/floral on the pretty complex but clear and refreshingly flinty nose. Bottled with 8.5% alcohol, this is a lush, piquant and well-structured Spätlese with good grip and a perceptible sweetness. The finish is intense and complex and reveals a firm mineral structure.
Superb expressive sweetness with a steely note to give interest. Fruit in abundance, ginger and spice on the palate and a long and rich but not heavy persistence. Graceful, beautiful. (RH)
About the producer
Joh. Jos. Prüm is the benchmark estate of the Middle Mosel, renowned for Rieslings of exceptional delicacy, precision, and longevity. From the legendary slopes of Wehlener Sonnenuhr to Graacher Himmelreich, their wines capture a singular balance of lightness, tension and mineral purity.