JJ Prum (Winemaking, Taste, Best Wines 2024)
Want to explore all about JJ Prum and the best wines to buy in 2024?
It’s rich history and consistently high standards have made this prestigious winery one of Germany’s leading wine producers. JJ Prum Rieslings are sought-after for their silkiness and legendary longevity.
Let’s discover more about this iconic wine, including its winemaking, taste and the Best Bottles To Buy In 2024. We’ll also reveal a Hassle-Free Way To Invest In The Finest JJ Prum Vintages and other fine wines.
Further reading
- Looking to invest in the best wines in the world? Check out this Guide On Investing In Wine.
- Attention Riesling lovers! Check out this Guide To The World’s Best Rieslings.
What is JJ Prum?
Joh. Jos. Prum, also known as JJ Prum, is a wine producer, situated in the village of Wehlen on the banks of the Mosel River in Germany. The family-run JJ Prum estate is renowned for their investment-worthy Riesling wines.
At the helm is Katharina Prum, who took control of the Prum estate in 2003 from her father, Dr. Manfred Prum.
Weingut JJ Prum produces only around 13,000 cases of wine annually and is famous for its extremely late harvesting and meticulous winemaking processes.
Read more: Prefer sparkling wines? Find out the best Champagnes to buy in 2024 and the right glasses to serve your Champagne in. Or, try one of these delicious Champagne cocktails.
So what’s the story behind the JJ Prum winery?
A Quick History of JJ Prum Wines
The Prum family has a 400-year old history in Wehlen and has been unofficially making wine for centuries. However, the JJ Prum wine house was officially established in 1911 by Johann Josef Prum.
JJ Prum was known for its Rieslings, and started making sweet Auslese wines in the 1920s.
Those credited with the estate’s rise to international acclaim are Sebastian Alois Prum, followed by his son, Dr. Manfred Prum, and today Dr. Katharina Prum.
Interestingly, both Manfred and Katharina studied law, yet they’re both master winemakers.
In 1996 Manfred Prum was awarded the prestigious ‘ German Winemaker of the Year’ title by the Gault Millau Guide to German Wine.
Today, JJ Prum produces a full range of Pradikat level wines. (Pradikat is the German system of classifying wines based on their sweetness and the ripeness level of the grapes used.)
Further Reading:
- Why not wow your friends with a lively Sangria or Mimosa?
- Or, if you prefer a berry-flavored cocktail, whip up a classic Kir Royale.
Vineyards and Viticulture at JJ Prum
JJ Prum owns vineyards in the most pristine parts of the best Middle Mosel sites. Mosel is known for its incredibly steep slopes - some with a gradient of 70-80 degrees.
With 70% ungrafted vines, the prestigious JJ Prum vineyards include:
1. Wehlener Sonnenuhr
The winery owns 5 hectares of this vineyard that was named after a sundial erected by Jodocus Prum in 1842. Good water access, south-southwest sun exposure, and the area's grey slate soil create the ideal Riesling grape growing conditions.
2. Zeltinger Sonnenuhr
Bordering the Wehlener Sonnenuhr vineyard on its northernmost edge, this site has equally good sun exposure and steep slopes. The old vines (60 to 70 years old) produce distinctly earthy, rocky, and smokey wines.
3. Graacher Himmelreich
This vineyard borders the southern end of the Wehlener Sonnenuhr site and has south-west sun exposure. It is less steep than the other sites, and the soil is deeper, which allows it to retain water.
Read more: Delve into the world of Barbera wines and read all about the easy-drinking Barbera d’Asti.
4. Graacher Domprobst
This JJ Prum vineyard is well protected from cold winds and frost. The stony, gray slate retains warmth, helping the grapes to ripen fully. The deep topsoil has a high clay content which conveys minerality and earthiness to the wines.
5. Bernkasteler Lay
This vineyard faces south-west, resulting in good sun exposure. Vines are planted on a heavy underlying slate rock, contributing to more assertive and dense wines.
6. Bernkasteler Badstube
Bordering the Graacher Himmelreich, this site has a gentle slope and deep soil. The vines have prolonged exposure to the afternoon sun that results in a distinctly floral wine with good minerality.
Read more: Prefer red wines? Check out these guides on the Finest Malbecs and Elegant Chianti wines.
How is JJ Prum Wine Made?
JJ Prum has become a Mosel archetype - the wines are of exceptional quality due to the vineyards’ great location, age of the vines, and low yields.
Although JJ Prum likes to keep it’s winemaking a mystery, they admit to keeping it as natural as possible with minimal intervention.
- Harvesting: It begins later than usual (starting in October.) The slopes make it practically impossible to farm with machinery. All the harvesting is done by hand.
- Fermentation: JJ Prum uses only stainless steel for winemaking. This is to avoid the addition of too much sulfur (which is typical for the wooden-vat-based fermentation process.)
They also use wild yeast fermentation techniques, which preserve the delicate “struck-match” aroma of the wines.
- Aging: After fermentation, they store the wine at temperatures slightly higher than 0°C.
JJ Prum wines are also bottled later than most other Mosel wines. They may take years of cellaring before they show their true character. The lighter wines require at least a few months in the bottle.
So what labels does this famous German winemaker produce?
JJ Prum Wine Labels
Today, JJ Prum produces 11 different wines:
- Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese
- Graacher Himmelreich
- Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese
- Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese Grosse Lage
- Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
- Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
- Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Eiswein
- Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Feine Auslese
- Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett Riesling
- Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese
- Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
Best Bottles of JJ Prum to Buy in 2024
Here are our picks for the best JJ Prum wines:
1. Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, 1959
This is a scarce and highly coveted Riesling wine made from individually selected grapes affected by noble rot. The result is a balanced wine with a silky mouthfeel, citrusy acidity, and high residual sugar levels.
Price of JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, 1959: $7,640
2. Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, 2005
This is a golden-colored vintage with a distinctly spicy aroma (which comes from the noble rot affected grapes). A delicate minerality reflective of the terroir, elevates the sweetness of this wine. Grapefruit and yeast notes complement the high but well-balanced acidity.
Price of JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, 2005: $6,079
3. Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Eiswein Lange Goldkapsel, Mosel, Germany, 1983
This vintage has distinctive exotic fruit, honey, and mango flavors, combined with delicate whiffs of earthiness. The initial creamy palate gives way to a fresh finish and a long-lasting aftertaste.
Price of JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Eiswein Lange Goldkapsel, Mosel, Germany, 1983: $1,782
4. Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Beerenauslese, 1971
This is a distinctly crisp wine with intense minerality and well-balanced acidity. The opulent Beerenauslese has a concentrated bouquet of sweet fruit, including peach, pear, and nectarine flavors. This is a complex and layered vintage, with a nice long finish.
Price of Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Beerenauslese, 1971: $1,415
5. Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese, 1935
Joh Jos Prum's Sonnenuhrs are a harmonious sweet and acidic offering from the winemaker. With tropical fruit flavors, this wine has pronounced tobacco tasting notes and a long finish. It pairs well with any white meat, spicy dishes, and cured meats.
Price of JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese, 1935: $3,005
6. Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel, 1971
This is another outstanding wine from this top-class winemaker. It’s a bold, perfectly balanced wine that has a distinct earthy flavour. This dark honey-colored elixir is thick and complex, with a layered, long finish.
Price of JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel, 1971: $1,314
7. Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Eiswein, Mosel, Germany, 1983
Here’s another example of long-aging JJ Prum’s Rieslings. This concentrated, amber wine has a nutty flavor and complex nose. It’s both rich and sweet with a racy elegance.
Price of JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Eiswein, Mosel, Germany, 1983: $1,530
8. Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel, Mosel, Germany, 1975
This wine has a light green melon, honey, and peach nose with restrained sweetness and good acidity. With subtle petroleum notes, this vintage has a near-perfect balance.
Price of JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel, Mosel, Germany, 1975: $1,950
9. Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel, Mosel, Germany, 2006
This is a rich fruit-flavored wine that displays pineapple, grape, nectarine, and lemon notes. It’s full-bodied, with a clay minerality and sharp acidity.
Price of JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel, Mosel, Germany, 2006: $1,030
10. Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Johannisbrünnchen Riesling Eiswein, Mosel, Germany, 2014
This is an intense Mosel Riesling with a distinct balance between sweetness and acidity. The jasmine aromas give way to intense passion fruit notes on the palate.
Price of JJ Prum Bernkasteler Johannisbrünnchen Riesling Eiswein, Mosel, Germany, 2014: $1,160
Read more: Looking for a good white wine? Read all about the best Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc wines to buy in 2024.
Should You Invest in JJ Prum Wine?
JJ Prum wines have remarkable aging potential for white wines, making them highly coveted by wine lovers. Even their lower-end wines can keep for at least 5-10 years if properly cellared.
The higher-end wines such as the Riesling Kabinett from Wehlener Sonnenuhr will age beautifully for 50 years and more. According to the wine critic Stuart Pigott, you can still find 1949 vintages that have retained perfect liveliness and character.
JJ Prum wines also perform well at auctions:
- At a 2013 Zachys auction, 12 bottles of 1983 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ‘Gold Cap’ were sold for $2,450.
- At the La Paulee auction in the same year, two lots of three bottles of 1959 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling TBA sold for $15,925.
JJ Prum also enjoys stable price appreciation over the years. A bottle of 1976 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel has increased in value since 2019 by around 16% (from $4,985 to around $5,824 per bottle).
Read more: Discover all about the best Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Zinfandel bottles to buy in 2024.
Although these wines are a good investment, it may be challenging to find them, given their rarity.
Thankfully Vinovest has a team of Master Sommeliers to help you take advantage of this and other excellent wine investment opportunities. This way, you can easily buy a JJ Prum vintage or a Chateau Lafite from the comfort of your home!
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JJ Prum - The Superstar of German Riesling Wines
JJ Prum wines have great refinement, poise, and an intense minerality - indicative of the famous Mosel terroir. What’s even better is the longevity of these wines.
If you’re looking for a bottle of JJ Prum to add to your cellar, Vinovest is your best bet!
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