Weingut Joh Jos Prüm 2023 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese

The 2023 Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese is classic Mosel Spätlese at its most refined: weightless yet intensely expressive, with crystalline fruit, slate-driven energy, and a perfectly judged sweetness that reads more luminous than “sweet.” It’s immediately charming, but the precision and mineral grip signal serious longevity.

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Origins & Craftsmanship
Joh. Jos. Prüm is one of the Mosel’s benchmark estates, revered for Rieslings that balance delicacy with endurance. Zeltinger Sonnenuhr is a sun-exposed site whose roots encounter slate earlier, naturally emphasizing mineral tension and aromatic clarity. In 2023, the estate reported a classic, pure style with refreshing acidity and fine ripeness across the Prädikat range—an ideal context for Spätlese, where harmony is everything.

The wine is hand-harvested and spontaneously fermented (native yeast) in stainless steel, preserving pristine fruit character while letting the vineyard’s slate imprint show through as saline lift and a subtle smoky edge. The result is a Spätlese that feels both succulent and remarkably precise—built to evolve, not merely to please.

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Critics Reviews
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awards this wine 96 points, praising its highly delicate, slate-inflected bouquet and the way terroir and Riesling fruit already feel seamlessly interwoven. The review highlights a palate that is round and juicy yet distinctly saline and mineral, finishing dense, stimulating, and “frisky” in true top-site Mosel fashion.

Vinous (Anne Krebiehl MW) scores it 95 points, noting a slightly reductive start that opens onto tender yellow plum nuance, then a palate that is beautifully light, vividly citric, and seamlessly fresh—finishing with a tingling, balanced clarity that amplifies the wine’s sense of lift.

James Suckling scores it 94 points, calling it tightly wound and firmly structured at this stage—very much the profile of a long-distance Spätlese that rewards patience as its layers unfurl.

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Tasting Profile
Nose: Finely crushed slate and wet stone lead, followed by white peach, yellow plum, and ripe orchard fruit. Hints of citrus blossom, fresh herbs, and a subtle smoky-mineral suggestion add polish and depth.

Palate: Silky and luminous, with a poised sweetness that frames (rather than dominates) the fruit. Citrus zest, peach nectar, and a gentle cassis-like accent glide across a bright, cool current of acidity. The wine’s signature is its salty, mineral grip—energizing and mouthwatering.

Finish: Long, vivid, and clean, with a tingling citrus-mineral close that feels both weightless and intensely persistent.

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Quick Overview