Fritz Haag - Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 2012
Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 2012 from the Fritz Haag estate is a great mature white wine from Mosel, where time has subtly blended sugar, acidity, and minerality into remarkable harmony. The clear golden robe with slightly silvery reflections already announces a beautiful evolution without heaviness. The nose opens with notes of candied apricot, ripe white peach, and roasted apple, complemented by touches of candied citrus, fine honey, and dried white flowers. In the background, the signature of the Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr slate appears as wet stone, delicate smokiness, and a very noble powdery impression. The palate, soft but perfectly balanced, unfolds a fine sugar supported by a crystalline acidity typical of Mosel, giving a slender rather than massive profile. The finish, very long, combines orange zest, light honey, mild spices, and salinity, with great purity of line.
With aeration, the 2012 gains aromatic complexity and reveals nuances of verbena, lemony herbal tea, beeswax, and discreet exotic fruits like mango or very ripe passion fruit. The aging patina is felt in the texture, more caressing, almost creamy, while remaining held by an acidic backbone of intact freshness. The steep hillside terroir, planted on sun-warmed slate, expresses itself through deep minerality and an almost tactile impression of warm rock. In this Spätlese, one perceives the estate’s precision, seeking finesse, digestibility, and terroir transparency rather than a display of richness. The wine breathes controlled maturity, with noble aromatic evolution but no sign of fatigue. Each sip confirms the balance between sweetness, tension, and mineral energy, in a very classic and accomplished expression of the Mosel style.
At the table, Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 2012 lends itself to a wide range of gastronomic pairings, well beyond just dessert. It beautifully accompanies lightly spiced Asian cuisine, sweet and savory dishes, lacquered duck, roasted poultry with citrus, or semi-cooked foie gras, thanks to its fine sweetness and sharp acidity. It is also superb with blue-veined cheeses, such as a mild blue, or alongside desserts with yellow fruits, citrus, or caramelized puff pastry. Served around 9 to 11 °C in a generous glass, it fully expresses its tertiary aromas while retaining its freshness. Already in a very nice tasting window, it can still evolve for a few years, gaining notes of honey, wax, and herbal infusion. It is a great terroir Spätlese, refined, vibrant, and very precise.
Grape variety: Riesling
