Cellar Favorite:
1983 Joh. Jos. Prüm Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 

BY NEAL MARTIN | AUGUST 11, 2025I
remember tasting the 1983 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese from Joh. Jos.
Prüm a few years ago in Burgundy. A Mosel maven tipped me off that the 1983 was
a hallowed, highly sought-after wine, and tasting it, it was immediately
apparent why. Another bottle was opened in Austria preceding a recent Château
Lafleur vertical. This Auslese has lost none of its lustre. Slightly burnished
in hue, it nevertheless appears youthful, especially considering it is now over
four decades old. The bouquet is Riesling in excelsis! Honeysuckle intermixed
with lemon verbena, hints of melted wax and pressed white flowers are all
delivered with exquisite delineation and focus. The palate follows suit with a
killer line of acidity that imbues this Riesling with so much tension and
vitality. 

<img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.vinous.com/uploads%2F1755461058126-Prum_CF.jpeg"> The 1983 is a more textural
Auslese than one with obvious fruit flavours. There is weight in the mouth and
a slightly resinous texture. Hints of peach skin and desiccated apricot emerge
with aeration. Perhaps with age, this comes across as an Auslese on the lower
side of residual sugar for the category. It feels so effortless, exuding
everything great about Riesling, about the Mosel, about JJ Prüm. 96/Drink
2025-2050.© 2025, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or re-distributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright, but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism.

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