Fritz Haag - Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 1996 375ml

🏰 The Fritz Haag winery - a 400-year legacy on the Moselle

The Fritz Haag winery is a shining star in the Moselle wine firmament. Its history is characterised by continuity, dedication and an incomparable terroir.

• A centuries-old tradition: The first documented mention of the estate dates back to 1605, and it has been owned by the Haag family without interruption ever since. The original name "Dusemonder Hof" is reminiscent of the former place name of Brauneberg, which was known as "Dusemond" until 1925.

• The Wilhelm Haag era: 1957 was a decisive turning point when Wilhelm Haag, the father, took over the business. With his tireless pursuit of quality, he moulded the winery into one of the best in the world. His work was crowned with the title "Winemaker of the Year" by the Gault Millau Wine Guide in 1994 . From 1984 to 2004, he was also involved in promoting the region as President of the Grosser Ring, the predecessor of the VDP.

• Oliver Haag takes over: In 2005, Wilhelm Haag handed over the reins to his son Oliver Haag. After studying oenology in Geisenheim and working at renowned estates such as Dönnhoff and Karthäuserhof, he brought a breath of fresh air without neglecting the traditional philosophy. Today, the winery cultivates around 19.5 hectares of vineyards, 100% of which are planted with the Riesling grape variety . The annual production totals around 130,000 bottles.

🌄 The Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr vineyard - the crown of the Brauneberg

The "showpiece" of the winery is the VDP.GROßE LAGE® Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr. It is considered one of the best Riesling sites in the world and represents the centrepiece of the entire Brauneberg vineyard:

• A natural amphitheatre: The site extends in the form of a shallow concave mirror that seems to catch and concentrate every ray of sunshine, ensuring optimal ripening conditions.

• Extreme terroir: The vines grow on steep slopes of weathered blue Devonian slatewith an incline of up to 80%. This slate soil is the cornerstone for the inimitable minerality, the filigree and the long-lasting, finely structured acidity of the wines. A special 7,000 m² parcel is planted with vines over 80 years old, which draw their complex flavour from the slate with deep roots.

• Microclimate: The site is sheltered from the wind, extends directly to the Moselle and has its very own microclimate, which favours warmth and allows the grapes to ripen slowly over a long period of time.

📅 The 1996 vintage - racy freshness and late ripeness

The 1996 vintage on the Moselle was a year with a special character that was ideal for large noble sweet Auslese wines:

• Late perfection: a cool summer delayed ripening considerably and allowed acidity levels to remain high. A sunny, dry "Golden October" saved the vintage for all those winegrowers who had the patience to wait a long time.

• The sweet spot: The best wines of the vintage, especially the Auslese and Prädikat wines above, are characterised by a wonderful balance. The characteristic, lively acidity is balanced by an additional creaminess and fullness. The best 1996 Auslese wines were therefore still "stunningly zesty and fresh, yet at the same time complex and delicately smooth" even after 20 years.

• Rarity of ripeness: Reaching the Beerenauslese stage was a challenge in this vintage, which makes wines such as this one, which is just around the corner, all the more valuable.

🏷️ The gold capsule - a promise of excellence

The "Goldkapsel"is not an official German predicate, but an internal classification of the winery that indicates a special selection of the highest quality within a predicate. In the case of the Auslese, the Goldkapsel marks a lot that is far above the standard in its concentration and complexity and clearly approaches the level of a Beerenauslese (BA).

🍷 The tasting profile of the 1996 in 2026 - a still young, elegant wine

With almost 30 years of maturity, this wine has not yet left its youthful stage behind, but is only just unfolding its full splendour. The notes from previous years paint a clear picture:

• Appearance: Following the 2012 tasting, the colour is described as a clear, bright green with golden reflections.

• Nose: The bouquet is fresh and intense. The scent of fresh meadow lime, citrus fruit and orange is accompanied by notes of ripe pear, a hint of petrol and floral accents. With increasing aeration, more complex, exotic flavours such as pineapple and guava are added.

• Palate: The wine presents itself with a perfect harmony of great, almost "tingling" acidity and a creamy, ripe texture. It is surprisingly fresh, dancing and light-footed in appearance, despite its dense concentration. The fruit flavours of lime, orange and peach dominate, framed by a waxy development.

• Finish: The finish is of great intensity and complexity, characterised by a strong dose of petrol, and lingers very long, wet and with a hint of orange spice.

💰 Market prices & availability 2026 - A coveted rarity for connoisseurs

This wine is a rare collector's item that is not available on the open market, but appears at auctions or from specialised suppliers. The research in May 2026 shows the appreciation for this rarity:

Conclusion market: A 0.75 litre bottle in perfect condition is traded at prices of around € 100. The 0.375-litre half-bottle commands a mark-up of around 50%, which underlines the exclusive character of the wine.

✨ Conclusion - a modern classic at the zenith of its development

The Fritz Haag - Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 1996is far more than just a wine. It is a monument to the mastery of Wilhelm Haag and a living testimony to one of the world's great wine estates. It combines the century-old terroir of the Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr, the racy elegance of a demanding 1996 vintageand the pure dedication of a winemaker to create a wine of remarkable freshness, depth and complexity. For the collector who is lucky enough to own one of these rare bottles, the 1996 offers a flavour experience that is hard to beat in its vitality and elegance.

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