drink now
A less ripe year although many top growers managed to produce a number of attractive wines
Weather Conditions
A mild spring led to an early budding, but two months of rain delayed the flowering until July: then copious rain and little sunshine until the middle of September seemed to have wrecked the growers hopes of a fine vintage. However, the fine weather which followed right through to the end of the vintage allowed the Riesling to recover and a few good long lasting wines including fine Ausleses were made.
Best Appellations
This vintage is characterised by high acidity, particularly in Mosel/Saar/Ruwer, and this perfectly suited the German market where excruciatingly dry wines were the height of fashion. This acidity also slowed down the development of the sweeter Spatleses and Ausleses but even so, few have lasted the course.
Best Producers
An example of the highest quality in this vintage is a brilliant Mosel, Mulheimer Helenenkloster Riesling Auslese from Max Ferd. Richter.
A very fine Eiswein vintage with ripeness and acidity just about in balance now.
