2018 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is still discreet but deep and vegetal on the coolish and still slightly reductive nose that opens up slowly with aeration. There is an expressive slate character here and coolish precision in terms of fruit flavors. Classy on the first palate, this is a crystalline, elegant and piquant, vital and crunchy Auslese that dinks quite well even in its youth. Based on the wine's density and piquancy, however, I recommend to cellar it for at least a decade. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.
Critic scores
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Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
David Schildknecht, Vinous
More reviews and scores
To my surprise, this delivered more effusive as well as decadent floral perfume than many a non-Himmelreich Prüm 2018, along with less of the citricity that I associate with this site. No doubt partly in consequence of those factors, there is a stronger sense of sheer sweetness here than in the other Auslesen of this collection. But of course, it is very early days for assessing a Prüm Himmelreich Auslese, that description being among those most consistently associated with ageworthiness on the Mosel. Scents and palate presence of fading lily blossom, Golden Delicious apple essence, overripe quince and Persian melon combine for a decadently heady and rich performance, with a glossy, creamy texture and prominent sweetness managing to avoid heaviness or stickiness en route to a caressingly and envelopingly lingering finish.
About the producer
Joh. Jos. Prüm is the benchmark estate of the Middle Mosel, renowned for Rieslings of exceptional delicacy, precision, and longevity. From the legendary slopes of Wehlener Sonnenuhr to Graacher Himmelreich, their wines capture a singular balance of lightness, tension and mineral purity.