2009 Mineral Riesling Trocken

Informed by fruit from some moderately steep slopes in the Fruhlingsplatzchen and Halenberg as well from the cool Rosenberg behind the village, the Schonlebers’ 2009 Riesling trocken Mineral manages to maintain a delightful sense of buoyancy even at 12.5% alcohol. This displays a deep sense of salinity one often associates with quartzite-rich sites, and which here threads its way invigoratingly and saliva-inducingly through a stream of lemon, grapefruit, white peach, and red berries. Cooling high-toned suggestions of mint and oregano add to the sense of refreshment in this long-finishing Riesling that ought to perform well for at least the next 4-5 years. Werner and Frank Schonleber harvested through nearly the entire month of October, and noted that levels of sugar and total acidity remained fairly constant, while flavors kept improving and malic acid diminishing in favor of tartaric. Speaking of improving, it’s hard for these two vintners to much-improve their by now phenomenal batting average, but no Riesling lover is likely to suffer the least disappointment by buying bottles of Emrich-Schonleber 2009s. Especially at its dry end, this is a collection to describe which seems to call for an extended mineral vocabulary that doesn’t even exist in English or German! And in nobly sweet echelons, the small amount of Riesling the Schonlebers rendered is strikingly successful and informed by an ample if mysterious measure of sheer juiciness. About the absence of Eiswein, Frank Schonleber notes: “We had the feeling that ripeness had simply advanced too far in 2009 to justify leaving any grapes hanging in anticipation of frost.” Imported by Sussex Wine Merchants, Moorestown, NJ; tel. (856) 608 9644; also imported by Dee Vine Wines, San Francisco, CA tel. (877) 389- 9463

Blue slate and quartzite soils. Lovely delicate, mineral citrus aromas. So refined. Tangy, very crisp and very dry. A palate awakener. Tight and lean but not thin. Lingering and subtle, almost sour in that dry finesse. (JH)

Restrained, but clear mineral definition. Goodly measure of acidity balances the mineral content, aided by supple texture. Straight and dry. (MS)