@wineguyinnewyork shares with us his top pick of the week.
This week, he introduces you to Joh. Jos. Prum and Mosel Rielsings!
J.J. Prum, a legendary winemaker in Mosel, the region producing the best Rieslings in the world
Founded over a century ago, Weingut Joh. Jos. Prum is in Germany’s Mosel wine region. Still run by the same family since 1910, it is the most famous German winemaker and the one you should absolutely try if you want to discover Mosel Rieslings.
One of J.J. Prum’s Rieslings makes it to the list of the 10 most expensive wines in the world, with an average price around $5,000 a bottle,
This Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2016 Riesling is a much more affordable option.
In case you are not familiar with Mosel Rieslings, they are crisp and fruity, and they tend to be sweet and low in alcohol.
This one is no exception.
It is produced in the estate’s sun-drenched Wehlener Sonnenuhr vineyards, characterized by a grey slate soil and steep slopes.
Spatlese means late harvest in German, so expect a semi-sweet Riesling. It is low in alcohol (only 8% ABV) with a nice structure and beautiful fruit aromas. The sweetness is balanced by a good minerality and acidity, resulting in a refreshing Riesling.
I paired it with a duck foie gras from D’Artagnan (made in the U.S.) and it was a great match. The French traditionally pair foie gras with a Sauterne but combining a food high in fat with a wine high in sugar and alcohol can be overwhelming for most palates.
I now prefer a dry Bordeaux or a semi-sweet white such as a Coteaux du Layon (Loire). These wines are more mineral and less loaded in residual sugar. Similarly, this Riesling is a great alternative and the perfect white wine if you want to drink something light and fresh.
The Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2016 Riesling is perfect right now but it will age beautifully for one or two decades.