2006 Rudesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling

The Breuer 2006 Rudesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling trocken is at least as pithy and cyanic as the Roseneck, and almost as strongly mineral, with a smoky aura that has you thinking “heat” even before it hits your palate. There is also attractive apricot fruit to go with the even more intense impression of apricot kernel, an imposingly voluminous, creamy palate personality, and a carnation-like floral note wafting throughout. The promise of future complexity is there, but will bitterness and heat cut it short? For the next 2-3 years though, this will certainly have its uses at table, and would be interesting in circumstances where one might otherwise employ a Savennieeres. Heinrich Breuer and Hermann Schmoranz began their Riesling harvest October 6, and finished in record time. Selective picking and watchful decantation and selection of the musts, rather than the use of treatments, was the approach taken here to the problematic health and botrytis of the vintage. The results included a 40% reduction in volume over their recent average. Imported by Classical Wines, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 547-0255