This precipitously steep, rocky vineyard consistently yields some of the most elegant and sophisticated white wines in the world. Wehlener Sonnenuhr (pronounced VAY-len-er ZON-en-ooer) is rated “First Growth” (Erste Lage) in the 1868 Prussian classification of the Mosel, and “Great First-Class” in the Wine Atlas of Germany by Hugh Johnson & Stuart Pigott (1995). The mineral-rich, blue Devonian slate soil of the “sundial” vineyard produces quintessential Mosel Riesling: delicate and refined, with racy minerality.
Auslese [OWS-lay-zuh] means “selected from the harvest,” and is a luscious, limited-production sweet wine made from very ripe clusters that are about 50% affected by botrytis.The botrytis mould, (aka “noble rot”) draws moisture from the grapes, dehydrating them and concentrating the juice. The resulting wine is dense, intensely flavoured and rich on the palate, but balanced by Riesling’s naturally crisp acidity.