Mosel – All about sweet wines

Dr. Hermann’s Top Selection – Old Vines from the Erdener Prälat

28. December 202530. June 2025 by Karl-Heinz Datum

© lapping on Pixabay, View of Ürzig vineyards and Erdener Prälat, as well as the village of Erden

With a slope of around 65 degrees, the Erdener Prälat is one of the steepest vineyards in Germany. The site also boasts an exceptionally high proportion of old, ungrafted Riesling vines. Thanks to its southern exposure in the Moselle loop and the heat-retaining rocks, the site enjoys a very warm microclimate, from which the vines benefit. The red slate soil also contributes to the complexity of these top-quality Rieslings. We tasted one of these examples, the 2022 Riesling Auslese Erdener Prälat Alte Reben from the Dr. Hermann winery.

Charming Auslese from Puenderich

2. June 202515. March 2025 by Karl-Heinz Datum

Riesling plays a very important role in German sweet wine. For me, Riesling Auslese wines from the Mosel region are definitely among the best. This time, we tasted the Riesling Auslese Pündericher Marienburg Fahrlay 2017 from the Clemens Busch winery. The Busch winery in Pünderich on the Mosel, represented by Rita and Clemens Busch and their son Johannes, cultivates around 20 hectares of vineyards. Most of these belong to the Grand Cru Marienburg, with a smaller portion belonging to the neighbouring Premier Cru Nonnengarten. Riesling is the dominant variety, accounting for 99% of the vineyard.

Stony Auslese from Goldtröpfchen

2. June 202522. December 2024 by Karl-Heinz Datum

The Schloss Lieser winery receives top marks from wine guides and wine critics. The wine guides Vinum, Eichelmann and Falstaff have given it 5 grapes and 5 stars respectively, making it one of the absolute top wine producers. The wines from the winery are also repeatedly awarded top marks – for example by Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson and ⁄.

Molitor’s 1-star Auslese from the Himmelreich

2. June 202511. August 2024 by Karl-Heinz Datum

The terroir of the Graacher Himmelreich can be described as excellent. Weathered, mineral-rich Devonian slate characterizes the vine sites around Graach. The heat-storing properties of the slate and the south to south-west orientation of the steep slopes enable a good ripening in late summer and into October.

Haag’s elegant late harvest from the Juffer Sonnenuhr

2. June 20255. December 2023 by Karl-Heinz Datum

**View of Brauneberg from the Juffer** from Dkvtig — Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

The Romans had already planted grape vines in the Brauneberger Juffer location – and made wine from them, as the remains of the Roman wine press at the foot of the steep slope show. The 10.5 hectare Juffer Sonnenuhr vineyard, whose name refers to the sundial located in the vineyard, is considered the heart of Brauneberger Juffer.

Dancing Riesling Kabinett J.J. 2022

3. November 202312. August 2023 by Karl-Heinz Datum

Some of the most sought-after wines are those from Julian Haart. Growing up in an extremely traditional winemaking family, he has been running his own winery

Willems-Willems’ Euchariusberg Auslese 2018

2. June 202513. May 2023 by Karl-Heinz Datum

**Viticulture near Krettnach** Jacquesverlaeken, CC BY-SA 3.0

The vines for Saar wines thrive on or near the Saar between Serrig and Konz. 80% of the vineyards there are planted with Riesling. We tasted a Riesling Auslese Krettnacher Euchariusberg 2018 from the Willems-Willems winery. A selection of vines that are located a little higher in the side valley of Krettnach and Niedermennig and as a result thrive in cooler locations,

Falkenstein – Old vines from the Großschock

23. April 202321. March 2023 by Karl-Heinz Datum

Hans had planned a Riesling Kabinett from Hofgut Falkenstein to round off the wine tasting, more precisely the Riesling Kabinett Krettnacher Euchariusberg Alte Reben 2019 from the Fuder Gisela, evident from the bold 8 in the AP number.

Markus Molitor’s Auslese*** from 2005

18. February 202315. February 2023 by Karl-Heinz Datum

Markus Molitor shows how the consistent implementation of quality standards can become a story of success. Since taking over his father’s winery in 1984, he has constantly expanded it, as he has consistently pursued the goal he formulated of building on the golden days of Riesling from the Mosel with wines that are extremely typical of the location and can be stored.

Liquid slate from the Erdener Treppchen

2. June 202515. November 2022 by Karl-Heinz Datum

View from Erdener Treppchen to the village Erden © Saubär Pixabay

Ernst Loosen from the winery Dr. Loosen is probably one of the biggest Riesling fans. This is shown, for example, by the fact that in a VDP interview, when asked “Do you have a favorite grape variety?”, he rhetorically

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