Dr. F. Weins-Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Germany, 8.0% alcohol, $23.99

When I picked up my wines from Bill Mayer he mentioned that he thought the Weins-Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr was almost as good as the Christoffel. I had bought some on a recommendation from another dealer, so I thought I should try it sooner than later. Also, someone here asked about it, so it will be nice to compare notes.

So far the Mosel's that I've tried are the Christoffel Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett, Dr. Loosen Erdener Treppchen Spatlese, Meulenhoff Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese and the Maximin Grunhaus Abtsberg Auslese. What I've noticed is that all of the wines were better the second day or hours after opening, so I will be cautious in assessing its potentia now. The closed nose is something I'm starting to expect. It will open up later. It is definitely more concentrated and intense that the Christoffel kabinett (which is to be expected), Meulenhoff spatlese and the Dr. Loosen spatlese. Right after opening, the acid dominates. I think this is a good sign because there is plenty of fruit behind it that is tying to come out. I'm looking forward to trying it again tomorrow.

Do you find Sonnenuhr is more delicate than many other MSR vineyards?

The second day, the wine filled out a little and had a tart apple sensation and the acid dominated. The third day, the wine rounded out with sweet ripe pear and white peach flavors. The sugar-acid balance was perfect. It is amazing what an evolution the wine made in 3 days. Unlike the Dr. Loosen, which changed but never really got better, this wine got very exciting, then very lush.

Jeremy, I'm not sure. It's generally more delicate than Erdener Treppchen and Herrenberg, and possibly Abtsberg and Urziger Wurzgarten. I guess I find Mosel's in general to be more delicate, or elegant or whatever term fits your experience best. In the great years, I think the Mosel's really shine because when something is delicate, but also intense (almost a contradiction), it's like magic. Although I'm glad that I bought a decent amount of Donnhoff (Nahe), Strub (Rheinhessen), Muller-Catoir and Darting (Pfalz), Leitz (Rheingau), I could have bought all Mosel and been content. The Darting was not elegant. It was an in your face kind of wine. Took me a few days to get used to it. It also mellowed in those few days as well.

Sorry, I forgot to state that this was a 2001.

I must say I agree about the MSR being such a top region now. My favoured producers if Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium. I'm yet to find a wine of his I have not enjoyed.

I must say i am not a big fan of Pflaz wines. They often seem (And I hate to use this word but) comercial, mass market wines with little individual characters merit.

When I was reading Bill Mayer's brochure last night, it reminded me of your comment earlier. In the Weins-Prum section he states, "Great Wehleners are the lightest of all Mosels, elegant and filigree, but with an amazing density of flavor. The only Wehleners that I know of are Wehlener Sonnenuhrs, so it ties in with your comment very well. In the Selbach-Oster section which starts the Mosel section, he states, "...we arrive at the Mosel. It seems the heart of German wines. Here, the wines are the lightest and brightest in all Germany. The green gleam of a young Mosel seems to promise all the magic of which German wine is capable."

Poetic statements indeed.

I'm glad to see the notes on this one as it is my first German purchase in 3 years or so.

I noticed that WA have very complimentary notes on this wine, but gave it an 89. I would give this at least a 92. Of course, we are drinking all of these wines so early.

GATC - I have your list of Germans "to buy" with me now when I'm wine shopping. I'm going to drink some of them young so I can find out what I like since I don't have much German wine experience.