Zach. Bergweiler Prüm Erben – Brauneberger Kammer Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel 1970

Zach. Bergweiler Prüm Erben – Brauneberger Kammer Riesling Beerenauslese 1970

1. The Winery: Zach. Bergweiler Prüm Erben

The history of the winery is closely linked to the extensive Prüm family , who have been based in Wehlen on the Moselle since 1156. The wine-making dynasty was founded by Mathias Prüm (born 1835). His seven children led to the winery splitting into several internationally renowned estates, including Robert Weil, Joh. Jos. Prüm and Dr Loosen.

The Zach. Bergweiler Prüm Erbenwinery traces its origins back to Zacharias Bergweiler, the great-grandfather of Ernst Friedrich Loosen. For a time, it also operated under the name Zach. Bergweiler-Prüm – Erben Dr. Bergweiler.

In 1988, the Zach Bergweiler Prüm Erben Dr. Adamswinery from Bernkastel merged with the Dr. Loosen Paul Loosen Erbenwinery from Ürzig. Ernst Friedrich Loosen took over the management and has been marketing the wines ever since under the name Dr Loosen. Today, Dr Loosen continues the legacy of this traditional estate and produces exclusively Rieslings of the highest quality from the estate’s own historic steep slopes.

2. The vineyard: Brauneberger Kammer

The Brauneberger Kammer is one of the most exclusive and smallest single vineyards in Germany:

The vineyard is so small that, under the German Wine Act of 1971, it should actually have been incorporated into the surrounding Brauneberger Juffer . However, due to its exceptional terroir and the resulting quality of the wine, it has been retained as a separate single vineyard.

As early as the 18th century, the Kammer was a coveted vineyard, with monasteries and counts vying for ownership. In 1788 ,Thomas Jefferson described the wines from here as “The 1st quality without any comparison” (of the highest quality, incomparably good). In 1804, under Napoleon Bonaparte, the Brauneberg vineyards were awarded Class 1 status in the classification system of the time. Since 1990, the Brauneberger Kammer has been solely owned by the Paulinshof winery.

3. The wine: Brauneberger Kammer Riesling Beerenauslese 1970

3.1 ‘Beerenauslese’ classification

Beerenauslese (BA) is a classification denoting the highest quality level in the German wine system. For a BA, only fully ripe grapes affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) are individually selected by hand. This results in:

• High natural sweetness with concentrated aromas

• Significantly reduced yields – the intensive hand-selection process makes BA wines rare and consequently precious

• Outstanding ageing potential – noble sweet Rieslings can mature over decades

3.2 The 1970 vintage

The 1970 vintage on the Moselle is regarded as a classic, long-lived vintage. Wines from this period are characterised by a pronounced acid structure and great ageing potential. A Riesling from this era, now almost 55 years old, is a rare collector’s item today.

3.3 Aromas and style (typical characteristics expected of a matured BA Riesling)

Given its age and noble rot, a well-stored bottle is expected to display the following characteristics:

• Colour: Deep gold through to amber tones

• Nose: Honey, dried apricots, peach, exotic fruits, accompanied by the typical petrol and mineral notes of Mosel slate

• Palate: Dense, sweet, yet with a fine, delicate acidity that provides balance; spicy and schist-like minerality

• Finish: Very long and complex

4. Market availability and value

The Zach. Bergweiler Prüm Erben – Brauneberger Kammer Riesling Beerenauslese 1970 is an extremely rare wine. Comparable bottles from the 1970s are occasionally traded on the auction and collectors’ market:

The value of a 1970 vintage from this top vineyard is significantly higher than the prices for modern vintagesdue to its rarity and age . However, specific current market prices for this exact wine are not publicly documented.

5. Conclusion

The Zach. Bergweiler Prüm Erben – Brauneberger Kammer Riesling Beerenauslese 1970 combines several factors contributing to its exclusivity:

• A historic winery with roots dating back to the 12th century

• One of the smallest and most prestigious vineyards on the Moselle (0.38 ha)

• Highest quality classification (Beerenauslese) with meticulous hand-selection

• A bottle over 50 years old from a classic Mosel vintage

For collectors and connoisseurs of German Rieslings, this wine is a highly sought-after rarity. Given its age, its condition (level of wine, cork, label, storage) is crucial to its actual value . A bottle that has been stored correctly can today offer a complex, honey-sweet taste experience with a remarkable acid structure – a living testament to the great Mosel Riesling tradition.

Note: The information provided is based on available public sources. Specific selling prices for this particular bottle are not documented. In the event of a purchase or auction, an expert assessment of the condition is recommended.