The 2023 vintage presented Wehlener Sonnenuhr's steeply sloped terrain as both challenge and advantage. The slate soils' excellent drainage proved critical as August's persistent rainfall threatened rot and disease across the Mosel. The vineyard's extreme south-southwest exposure maximised available sunlight during the cooler late-season conditions, whilst the thin topsoil and deep slate foundation prevented waterlogging that compromised fruit elsewhere. The Prüm family's decision to delay harvest until late September allowed noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) to develop selectively on the ripest berries—the defining character of Auslese wines. The 2023 growing season, despite its challenges, ultimately produced wines with pronounced extract and layered complexity benefiting from the abundant water availability.

The 2023 Auslese harvest required meticulous fruit selection, with triple-sorted bunches ensuring only the finest Botrytis-affected grapes entered production. Pressing was extraordinarily gentle given the delicate nature of noble-rot berries. Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel commenced slowly, the natural yeasts working deliberately through the season. Extended lees contact—typically spanning six to nine months—developed the wine's characteristic waxy, honeyed complexity whilst maintaining freshness. The resulting Auslese showcases the 2023 vintage's generous extract and the vineyard's slate-driven minerality, balancing higher residual sweetness with the precision for which the estate is renowned.