Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese VV, Zach Bergweiler-Prum Erben, Dr. Loosen 2019

The vivid yellow-colored 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Vieilles Vignes opens with a fascinatingly intense yet refined and elegant, saline and flinty bouquet of ripe and fresh pineapples, Burundi bananas and hints of caramel. Round and lush on the palate, this is a light yet intense and supple, remarkably refined and saline Riesling with fine, crystalline acidity (9.1 grams per liter) and no palatable sweetness. This is a highly gastronomic Auslese from ancient vines. It is still young but already irresistible. 9.5% stated alcohol and 53 grams per liter of residual sugar. Natural cork. Tasted in October 2025.

AP: 02 21. The 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Vielles Vignes, as it is referred to on the consumer label, was made from partially botrytized fruit harvested on over 100-year-old un-grafted vines in the prime Lammerterlay sector of the vineyard and was fermented and aged with extended oak aging and relying on traditional methods down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar. Slightly yellow-golden in color, this exhibits a most attractive and superbly layered nose of smoke, aniseed, white and yellow flowers, almond cream, acacia, butter, toast, and cinnamon. The wine is very delicate and wonderfully creamy and smooth on the palate yet shows great grip and intensity in the very long and smoky finish, which proves more fruity-styled than fully sweet in style. The fruit proves ripe and finely honeyed. This is a great old-style Auslese GK wine, as they were produced in the 1990s. 2029-2049

The 2019 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Vieilles Vignes immediately charms with herbal lift. Slight notions of yarrow surround dried lemon peel and peach preserve aromas on the nose. The palate adds a beautiful pithiness, providing contour and the most pleasant bitterness reminiscent of dried lime peel. It is wonderfully concise, concentrated and precise. Supple sweetness is completely countered by a mouth-watering, deep-seated zestiness. The 2019 is long and profound. (Sweet) (Drink between 2025-2060)