Willi Schaefer
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese 2025
| Denomination | N/A |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 7.5% by volume |
| Area | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (Germany) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Riesling |
- Name and style: Still sweet white wine from late-harvest grapes
- Origin and terroir: Meridiana vineyard in Wehlen, Graach on the Moselle; slate soils
- Aromas: notes of white peach, salted lemon and grapefruit, elderflower and smoky minerality
- Palate: sweetness balanced by saline acidity; taut and juicy mouthfeel, very persistent finish
- Accolades: 96 James Suckling points and 97 Vinous points; 7.5% vol, 0.75-litre bottle
Description
What type of wine it is
The Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese is a fine still sweet white produced by the renowned Willi Schaefer winery in the picturesque German region of the Mosel. Made exclusively from Riesling grapes, this celebrated wine is classified as a Prädikatswein, confirming its outstanding artisanal quality. On the palate, it presents an extraordinarily balanced and complex style, capable of balancing the natural sweetness of the grapes with a bracing saline acidity and an extremely long finish. Its creation is based on a rigorous late harvest, which allows for the concentration of crisp aromas of white peach, citrus and a distinct smoky minerality without ever feeling heavy.
Where it comes from
This Riesling originates from the prestigious and historic Wehlener Sonnenuhr vineyard, located near Graach on the Mosel, one of the most highly-regarded viticultural sub-zones in the region. The distinctive element of this exceptional terroir is the soil composition, dominated by pure slate, which provides the vines with an ideal environment to develop depth and character. These peculiar territorial characteristics translate directly into the glass, giving the wine its unmistakable smoky mineral core and exceptional ethereal and floral finesse.
How it is produced
The production process begins with a meticulous harvest of the bunches, carried out during the Spätlese phase, through a careful delayed picking that ensures a high degree of ripeness and a natural sugar richness. The entire oenological approach is aimed at maintaining constant gustatory tension, ensuring that the sweet component is supported by a lean, airy and juicy structure.
History and facts
The Willi Schaefer brand produces this artisanal wine in the historic Wehlener Sonnenuhr vineyard, located in Graach on the Moselle. This prestigious creation boasts the German classification of Prädikatswein, an emblem of a profound winemaking tradition. The traditional aesthetic recalls the past, featuring elegant vine motifs and an ancient decorative coat of arms. Confirming its great historical and qualitative prestige, this late harvest has achieved exceptional ratings, receiving 96 points from James Suckling and a score of 97 from Vinous.
Awards
-
2025
96/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
-
2025
97/100
Vinous is the online guide from Antonio Galloni, one of the world's leading wine connoisseurs.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
°C
- Start up year: 1590
- Oenologist: Willi & Christoph Schaefer
- Hectares: 3
| Name | Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese 2025 |
|---|---|
| Type | White green still dessert wine |
| Denomination | N/A |
| Vintage | 2025 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 7.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Riesling |
| Country | Germany |
| Region | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer |
| Vendor | Willi Schaefer |
| Story | History and facts The Willi Schaefer brand produces this artisanal wine in the historic Wehlener Sonnenuhr vineyard, located in Graach on the Moselle. This prestigious creation boasts the German classification of Prädikatswein, an emblem of a profound winemaking tradition. The traditional aesthetic recalls the past, featuring elegant vine motifs and an ancient decorative coat of arms. Confirming its great historical and qualitative prestige, this late harvest has achieved exceptional ratings, receiving 96 points from James Suckling and a score of 97 from Vinous. |
| Origin | Graach on the Moselle |
| Soil composition | Slate |
| Harvest | Late harvest |
| Production technique | Late harvest |
| Wine making | Late harvest (Spätlese). |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |