Riesling Kabinett Wehlener Sonnenuhr
2018
Situated in the heart of the Mosel's finest vineyards, the Max Ferdinand Richter estate has been in the family for over 300 years. The family owns 48 acres of priceless vines on the magnificent stretch of the river between Erden and Brauenberg including all the best sites: Graacher Himmelreich, Wehlener Sonnenuhr and Brauenberger Juffer and Richter's monopole Veldenzer Eilsenberg. This is quite literally an embarrassment of riches. Richter's vines are sustainably farmed; all grapes are...
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The Sonnenuhr is framed by rugged slate rocks, lending its name to the surrounding vineyards. This extremely steep site is dominated by bluish Devonian clayslate with a very stony character that provides optimal airing for the growth of the vines. South/southwestern exposure further reinforces the idyllic growing conditions in these vineyards, which are watered by runoff from heavily wooded mountains above.
Ripe, yellow fruit, honey, and elegant floral notes. On palate the taste of pure ripeness, intense mineral notes and a typical, lean structure.
A fabulous Kabinett with all the floral finesse for which this site is famous. Real concentration married to wonderful delicacy. So much peachy fruit, but not a jot too loud. Very long, energetic yet silky finish. From at least 80-year-old vines. Drink or hold.
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From 80- to 90-year-old vines picked at 78° Oechsle, the 2022 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett opens with a pretty reductive and sulfidic bouquet with stony and herbal notes wrapping around the bright fruits and white blossom aromas. This wine needs lots of air, but Constantin has already fallen in love with the nose now. Savory, clear and refined on the palate, with crystalline, finely grained acidity and a salivating taste of slate, this is a very promising Kabinett from the iconic cru in Wehlen. The 2022 should be aged for at least 5-10 years, and it will reward your patience with great finesse and complexity. 7.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in May 2023.
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Harvested at a low 82° Oechsle, this offers a gorgeous and delicately ample nose of ripe apricot tree flower, white flowers, melon and yellow peach. The wine is stunningly crisp and focused on the palate and superbly playful acidity brings great Kabinett freshness to the delicately ample and long finish. This is a superb Kabinett in the making! 2025-2045
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The 2021er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett was made from fruit harvested on up to 100-year-old un-grafted vines and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (50 g/l). It offers an elegantly floral and refined nose of tangerine, pear, yellow peach, mint, thyme, and prune. The wine proves superbly playful and delicately creamy on the palate, yet also has quite some refreshing and zesty acidity coming through. The finish is rather sharp and focused and needs a few years in order to develop more finesse.
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The 2017er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett was harvested early at 82° Oechsle. It offers a gorgeous nose of grapefruit, apricot, under-ripe pineapple, citronella, yuzu, ginger cream and smoke. The wine is quite rich at first on the palate, which is driven by ripe yellow fruits. Yet, a most animating, racy and energetic acidity kicks in and makes for a refined and focused finish. This is a gorgeous fruity-styled in the making!
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This Kabinett harvested early at 82° Oechsle offers a rather beautiful nose of canned yellow peach, grapefruit, pineapple and flowers. The wine is nicely balanced with good, almost Spätlese, presence on the palate and a delicate light-feathered and juicy finish.
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Scents of lime and apricot are not exactly typical for this site, but they are appealing, and they anticipate the juicy profusion that emerges on a polished, buoyant, subtly glycerol-slicked palate. This finishes with impressive cling, consummate refreshment, a fine sense of slate suffusion, and adept integration of what by prevailing Mosel standards has to be counted as exceedingly modest residual sugar.
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This offers a slightly exotic touch on the nose with rosewater, litchi and juniper berry wrapping some fresh and spicy pear and grapefruit. The wine is nicely clean on the palate, with a delicate touch of whipped cream balancing out some firm acidity in the spicy finish.
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The 2022er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett was made from fruit harvested at a low 78° Oechsle on up to 100-year-old un-grafted vines and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (45 g/l). This hay-colored wine still proves marked by residual scents from its spontaneous fermentation and only gradually reveals a gorgeous nose blending riper elements of pear and earthy spices with fresher ones driven by bitter grapefruit and white flowers. The wine is nicely playful on the moderately zesty and nicely light-weighted palate and leaves a superb even if subtle feel of tart fruity elements in the long finish. The balance is beautiful but rounder than in recent vintages, but there is clearly quite some potential when the wine reveals all its complexity and develops its cut.
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Picked from 80- to 90-year-old vines with the fruit at around 75° to 76° Oechsle, Richter's 2021 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett offers pure yet intense and concentrated, flinty-scented fruit with citrus and red cassis aromas. Round and savory on the palate, with crystalline acidity and perfectly round fruit, this is an elegant and refined WSU with redcurrant notes on the saline finish. The acidity is fine but everything else is shy except for the great expression of the blue slate in the Sonnenuhr. 7.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022.
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