The Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2022 is a sweet Riesling from the Mosel in Germany, in a 375ml half bottle. It has candied citrus, apricot and passion fruit flavours, held together by bright acidity and a long finish. It suits blue cheese, fruit desserts, or a small glass on its own after dinner.
A glass of this shows candied lime and lemon peel first, then apricot and passion fruit, with honey and a light slate spice underneath. It is sweet and concentrated, and the acidity keeps it lively, so the finish is long and fresh.
The half bottle is a good size for two people to share after dinner. It goes well with a cheese board or a fruit tart, and suits anyone who likes sweet wine and wants to try a top Mosel Auslese without committing to a full bottle.
Fritz Haag is a Brauneberg estate whose records go back to 1605. The Goldkapsel is its top tier of Auslese, made from the best botrytis-affected grapes (grapes touched by noble rot, which concentrates their sugar and flavour), from the Juffer Sonnenuhr vineyard.
What it tastes like
This wine has a bright, ripe nose of candied lime and lemon peel, passion fruit and apricot, with honeycomb and a cool, herbal freshness. The aromas on the nose are complex and layered.
The palate is rich and concentrated, with a sweetness that is well matched by lively acidity. Light slate spice runs through the middle, and the finish is very long.
Style at a glance
- Body: Full and concentrated
- Sweetness: Sweet, at about 125 g/L of residual sugar
- Acidity: High and bright
- Oak: Old, neutral oak casks and stainless steel, so no oak flavour
- Style: Sweet, rich, bright Mosel Riesling
Food to enjoy this with
- Blue cheese with honey and walnuts
- Seared foie gras with roasted figs
- Roast duck with peaches
- Peach or apricot tart with almond cream
- Mango dessert or fresh tropical fruit
- Thai green curry with prawns, where the sweetness and acidity handle the heat and spice
Who makes it
Fritz Haag's records date to 1605, in the village then called Dusemond, which was renamed Brauneberg in 1925 after the brown slate of its hillside. Wilhelm Haag took over the estate in 1957, and his son Oliver Haag has made the wines since 2005. The estate is a member of the VDP, the association of Germany's top wine estates.
Juffer Sonnenuhr is a Grosse Lage (Grand Cru) site, and the steepest, most south-facing part of the Brauneberg hillside. Shallow vertical troughs in the slope act like a concave mirror and store the sun's warmth, and the soil is poor brown slate. Fritz Haag uses indigenous yeasts (wild yeasts from the vineyard), ferments in a mix of old oak Fuder casks (large traditional barrels) and stainless steel, and makes its sweet wines without adding Süssreserve (unfermented grape juice).
About the 2022 vintage
The 2022 season started with a warm spring, and warmth in May pushed the vines along quickly. Summer was very dry. Dorothee Zilliken of Zilliken says in the VDP's vintage review that old vines with deep roots coped best with the drought. The Mosel harvest started in late September, and Sam Craig of Skurnik Wines reports that rain interrupted picking part of the way through.
John Gilman called 2022 "absolutely a great vintage for the estate", with stellar Spätlesen and Auslesen from the Juffer vineyards.
When to drink it
This wine is lively enough to enjoy now, and a suggested window is 2025 to 2060. It is best served well chilled.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Fritz Haag |
| Wine: |
Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel |
| Vintage: |
2022 |
| Variety: |
Riesling |
| Region: |
Mosel (Brauneberg, Juffer Sonnenuhr Grosse Lage) |
| Country: |
Germany |
| Residual sugar: |
About 125 g/L |
| Oak: |
Old, neutral oak Fuder casks and stainless steel |
| Fermentation: |
Indigenous yeast |
| Cellaring: |
Drink now and through to 2060 |
| Serving temperature: |
8 to 9°C |
Where to buy
The Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2022 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can build a mixed case from a large range of wines.
Questions we are often asked
What does Fritz Haag Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkapsel 2022 taste like?
The 2022 shows candied lime and lemon peel, passion fruit and apricot, with honey and light slate spice. It is sweet and concentrated, with acidity that keeps it fresh.
How sweet is Fritz Haag Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkapsel 2022?
It is a sweet wine, with about 125 g/L of residual sugar. The high acidity balances that sweetness, so it drinks lively.
What does Goldkapsel mean on a Fritz Haag Auslese?
Goldkapsel is Fritz Haag's top tier of Auslese, made from the best botrytis-affected grapes at the heart of the Juffer Sonnenuhr vineyard. It is named for the gold capsule on the bottle.
How long can Fritz Haag Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkapsel 2022 be cellared?
It can be enjoyed now, and a suggested drinking window runs through to 2060. Fritz Haag describes its Rieslings as lively now and long-lived.
What food goes with Fritz Haag Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkapsel 2022?
Blue cheese with honey, seared foie gras with figs and roast duck with peaches all suit it, as do fruit tarts and Thai green curry with prawns.
Where can I buy Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2022?
The Winery sells Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2022 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
