The Fine Wine Experience Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese tasting
Institute of Directors, London
Tasted Thursday, June 12, 2008 by Xavier Auerbach with 450 views
Introduction
The tasting was attended by Manfred and Katharina Prüm and, apart from the 1949's, the wines were all from their cellar. Maddeningly, I seem to have misplaced my tasting notes taken at the time. Can't find them anywhere! I have however added some brief comments from memory. Next to the vintages commented on here, the 1995, 1999 and 2001 were also on show, but four years later my memory of these vintages is insufficient for even a rudimentary tasting note.
1949 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Feinste Auslese 92 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
From memory. Rich, impressive and delicious, but slightly muffled on the nose. From my cellar.
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1949 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling feine Auslese 92 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
From memory. The label does not mention "feine" but the bottle has a gold cap and Katharina Prüm confirmed this is actually a "feine" Auslese. Quite a deep colour; intense but starting to dry out. From Linden's cellar.
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1959 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling feine Auslese 93 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
From memory. Very light colour (hardly any botrytis); slightly lactic nose, Linden's citrus blanc mangé actually a very apt description, incredibly light and fresh. You would never guess this was half a century old. Seems to defy time.
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1969 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling feine Auslese 94 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
From memory. 1969 is a much underrated vintage and this wine is proof. Wonderful racy acidity, elegant and complete.
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1971 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 96 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
From memory. 1971 probably was the most perfect growing season since WWII and it showed in this wine. The best and most complete wine of all vintages tasted today. Nothing less than glorious. Epitome and all that.
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1976 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 95 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
From memory. What is really striking, is how much this wine is an expression of the growing season in its vintage. Rich, with lots of botrytis, but relatively low acidity and therefore not quite the structure and the stature of the 1971.
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1983 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 94 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
From memory. Very little botrytis this year. Incredibly energetic and precise, seemed far too young at 25 years of age!
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1985 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 92 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
From memory. Like the 1985 LGK, rather blunt.
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1997 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 90 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
From memory. Seemed alarmingly light. Awkward stage? I have some bottles in my cellar- revisit in 2017?
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2003 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 92 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
From memory. Deceptively soft and easy. When will the minerality emerge?
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