drink soon
A good year for Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese in the Rheingau and Pfalz
Weather Conditions
There was no shortage of water in 1994 in contrast with the droughts of previous years. The setting and the flowering were both perfect and in July was much hotter than usual, with an average temperature of 23 C. But rain in September changed all this. Hopes for the early ripening grapes were dashed, but Riesling growers were encouraged by the early onset of Botrytis caused by the rain. Four weeks of idyllic sunshine and autumnal mists in October raised the must weights of the Riesling to heights which had not been reached since the legendary 1976 vintage.
Best Appellations
Wherever the Riesling flourishes in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, the three regions of the Rhein, plus the Nahe, the Pfalz, Franken and Wurttemberg some truly great wines were made. In the Pfalz the Scheurebe too excelled, as it usually does in a great Riesling vintage. Some wines are taking a long time to transform their character from their original primary fruit flavours to the subtle overtones of full maturity.
Best Producers
Among many good estates in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Fritz Haag excelled, while the Werner estate in the Rheingau had one of their best years. Weingut Keller rose like a rocket in Rheinhessen and von Buhl and Pfeffingen (Riesling and Scheurebe) made tremendous Ausleses. In the Ahr, Meyer-Nakel showed what can be achieved with Spatburgunder in such a northern region.
