drink soon
A very successful vintage in the Mosel, producing both rich and racy wines
Weather Conditions
The auspices were excellent until continuous rain and cold weather set in towards the end of August and into September and presaged a sharp reduction in quantity and a reassessment of potential quality. In October the weather suddenly changed to become the warmest October since 1985. This was too late for the early ripening grapes but the Oechsle levels of the ripeness of the Riesling rocketed.
Best Appellations
The estates in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer who delayed picking were able to make a small but superb vintage but the fine weather came too late for many of the growers in the Nahe, Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz, who had already picked their grapes. The earlier ripening varieties in Baden and Wurttemberg also disappointed.
Best Producers
A number of top estates made brilliant Rieslings: in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Egon Muller and Rheinhold Haart, in the Nahe, Donnhoff, in Rheingau, Robert Weil, Joseph Leitz and Johannishof and in the Pfalz, Burklin-Wolf. In other regions different varieties were equally successful: in Franken, Juliusspital with Silvaner, in Baden, Huber with Spatburgunder) and Johner with his Chardonnay “SJ”. Early and copious year for Eiswein.
