2022 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese

WINEMAKER: Katharina Prüm
REGION: Mosel, GER
VARIETY: Riesling
VITICULTURE: Sustainable

“The 2022 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese is rather closed. Distant fruit appears as though behind glass where you can see but not touch. The palate is a juicy, rounded but tingling picture of tangerine. Aromatic, deliciously tart but wonderfully ripe, with that scented, balancing, zesty tang of tangerine peel. The 2022 shows poised balance, sweetness, extended, aromatic length and real elegance. (Medium)” 93 points, Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous

What is behind the consistency and greatness of J.J. Prüm? There are five main reasons:

1. Great sites: the four vineyards below have 2,000 years of history and are some of the most revered of the middle Mosel (Graacher Himmelreich and Wehlener Sonnenuhr in particular, are legendary). 

2. Old, ungrafted vines: 90% of the estate’s vines are ungrafted with an average age exceeding 60 years. There are several key parcels aged between 70 and 100 years-plus. This has all kinds of implications for yield and quality. 

3. Precise picking dates: every parcel is picked only when perfectly ripe (subject to Prädikat) and often with multiple passes. 

4. Natural yeast, unhurried fermentations and patient aging on lees: the wines are never rushed and are only bottled when ready. This extra time on natural lees means the wines absorb everything the lees have to give (this sometimes means some gentle reduction and wines that need some time to unwind). 

5. The Prüms are a family of perfectionists: They are interested only in producing greatness and honouring the remarkable vineyards and ancient vines they are blessed to farm.