Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese 2023

Dr. Loosen is one of the Mosel's leading estates, and Wehlener Sonnenuhr is among its most famous sites, a steep south facing slope of weathered blue Devonian slate named for the sundial built into the hillside. The slate stores the day's heat and radiates it back to the vines, helping the grapes ripen on a river valley this far north. Spätlese means late harvest, so the fruit is picked riper than a basic bottling, and fermentation is stopped to retain some natural grape sugar. The result is off-dry rather than sweet, with the low 8.5 percent alcohol typical of the style. Crucially the Mosel's cool climate keeps acidity high, which balances the residual sugar and stops the wine feeling heavy. The colour is bright pale green gold. The nose is fragrant, with white peach, apricot, lemon and honeyed white flowers. The palate is delicate and light bodied, the gentle sweetness held in tension by racy acidity, finishing clean and long. Serve cold at 8 to 10 degrees.