Cellar Favorite:
2015 &amp; 2005 Joh. Jos. Prüm Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese

BY NEAL
MARTIN | MARCH 16, 2026

Joh.
Jos. Prüm has been one of my go-to Mosel producers since I fell under the
Riesling spell in the salad days of my career. I have fond memories of visiting
Katharina Prum and her father, Manfred, when I frequented the annual auctions
in Trier. These two bottles, which were poured side-by-side at a recent dinner,
were pertinent reminders of the wonders of affordable Mosel Riesling. The 2015
Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese&nbsp;hardly seems to have aged since
bottling. Pale and clear in hue, it has a bright, lucid and vibrant nose with
faint background scents of apricot blossom and mint. The palate is linear and
tensile from the start, built around its razor-sharp acidity. Flecks of wild
peach decorate the finish that just fizzes with energy. What are we looking at
here? Answer: a Riesling that will blossom over 40 or 50 years with no problem.
94/Drink 2026-2065 

<img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.vinous.com/uploads%2F1773335983487-CF_Mar162026.jpg">The 2005 Riesling Wehlener
Sonnenuhr Spätlese&nbsp;is even better than the 2015 tasted alongside. This
shows some signs of maturity with subtle linseed and Clementine scents on the
nose, but it is the palate that is so striking. The 2005 is endowed with
tremendous weight; it’s oily in texture, richer than the 2015, but with
countervailing acidity that lends it balletic poise. It just lacquers the mouth
and leaves you gasping for more. It’s amazing how a great Riesling seems so
light on its toes yet exerts such presence. The residual sugar here is perfectly
pitched, perhaps nudging up to Spätlese in sensation. This will give 25 to 30
years more drinking pleasure. 96/Drink 2026-2055© 2026, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or redistributed 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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