The Prum family has been situated in the village of Wehlen as far back as 1165.
The land held by the family was divided in 1911, at which point the estate was split up amongst MathiasPrum’s four sons and three daughters.
It was at that time when Joh. Jos. Prum, the eldest son, started up the estate as we know it in modern times.
The family was founding members of the VerbandDeutscherPrädikats- und Qualitätsweingüter, or the VDP for short.
The approximately 200 producers belonging to the VDP have regulations for wine production, which are actually stricter than what is required by German law and hold the quality of their wines to exceptional standards.
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Review
This wine takes its name from the vineyard from which it is produced, the WehlenerSonnenuhr Vineyard. This vineyard is located directly opposite the village of Wehlen by the Mosel River.
The name Sonnenuhr, literally “sundials,” stems from the fact that the hillside is covered in stone sundials, some of which date back to the 17th century.
The placement of both the sundials and the vines here was no accident, as both flourishes on the sun-drenched southern slopes located in the area.
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Summary
- Brand: Joh. Jos. Prum
- Country: Germany
- Region: Mosel
- Wine Type: White Wine
- Varietal: Riesling
- ABV: 9.5%
Appearance
The wine is crystal clear and is a light straw color as it sits in the glass. The legs, when you can coax them into forming, are wispy and thin. It is incredibly light-bodied.
Smell
The aromatics of this wine are restrained yet complex. Notes of petrol, wet stone, and beeswax are interwoven amongst the more pronounced fruit characteristics.
Said fruit smells are composed largely of nectarines, lemon rind, a bit of lime zest, underripe golden apples, and apricots.
Taste
The wine has a lovely structure, boasting a bit of racy minerality and zippy acidity.
This is definitely a more difficult one to coax fruit from, with notes of wet slate and jasmine coming to the front of the palate.
When the fruit does emerge, it does so in the form of crisp green apple, lemon zest, and a bit of lime, complimented by a note, not unlike raw honey.
Make no mistake, though, this is not your typical sugar bomb Riesling that springs to mind for many people.
It is an off-dry style, with just enough sugar to keep you coming back for more as the wine lingers on the tongue for longer than you would expect.
What Does Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Pair With?
Riesling is one of my go-to “cheat-sheet” wines for pairing, as you can make them work with just about anything.
Personally, with an off-dry style like this, I am particularly fond of oysters with hot sauce, mild to lightly spicy curries, and pad Thai.
That said, the sky is the limit. Try it with a host of different poultry options, fish, pasta, and even pork chops!
What Wines Are Similar to Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett?
Another personal favorite bottle of mine is Dr. Loosen Sonnenuhr vineyard, as it is also sourced from the same highly-esteemed vines.
You could also try some more modern interpretations of Riesling. If you decide to go that route, I strongly recommend Eroica from Chateau Ste. Michelle.
Eroica is produced in Washington state, with the guiding hand of Ernst Loosen, the patriarch of Dr. Loosen, over in the Mosel.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this bottle. I must admit that I am a bit biased, as it comes from one of my absolute favorite wine-producing vineyards in all of Germany.
But, if you are even the slightest bit interested in Riesling or just high-quality light-bodied white wines, I would strongly urge you to give it a shot.