2006 German question

From this forum and others, I gather that 2006 was not a great year in Germany, yet I've bought a small (under 1 case) allottment (Donnhoff, Kuehn, others), and hoping these will keep for mid-term aging (up to 8 years or so). I gather there were problems with ripeness, botrytis, elevated sugars, but what other kinds of issues were problematic? Seeing as how the prices on things European keep creeping up with each successive vintage, I doubt I'll be purchasing many of the fantabulous 2007's, so trying to keep other older vintages in mind when purchasing, especially when these can be bought at a discount.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

Not right, 2006 was a terrific year at the region Nahe, ask Mr. Dönnhoff+Mr. Emrich-Schönleber, Mr. Schäfer-Fröhlich.
Also very good in Rheinhessen with Keller. And also good in Mosel?!

But quite bad in the region Pfalz, Baden, Franconcia.

There were problems in 2006 in some regions (Pfalz and Rheingau - due to heat damage) but the real issue that many lovers of German Riesling have is the style of the wines: there are heavily marked with yellow peaches / apricots / smoky flavours, weighty and mighty. If you love this, it is a great vintage (and by the way ageability of most of the wines of Dönnhoff will exceed 10-15 years without any problem - the Auslese could easily make it for half a century) and there were some great wines made ... in this "full botrytis" style.

So the real question that you need to answer for yourself: is it a style of wine that I like? It's a sort of blend of 89 and 76 and (but not many know this vintage) a successful version of 67.

If you like citrus, white peaches, minerals, etc., you are far better off with 2004 or 2007 ... even if it means that you may be buying less (with the Dollar going down the drain).

Hope this helps, J

Not right, 2006 was a terrific year at the region Nahe, ask Mr. Dönnhoff+Mr. Emrich-Schönleber, Mr. Schäfer-Fröhlich.
Also very good in Rheinhessen with Keller. And also good in Mosel?!

But quite bad in the region Pfalz, Baden, Franconcia.

Not right, Martin, in Franken ... stunning stuff being made down there - another 67. Taste now the top stuff by Wirsching and Juliusspital (BTW - the top stuff is IMHO NOT the GG - at Wirsching, it is the S Trocken series and at Juliusspital the Spätlese Trocken)

Aha, good to know!

BTW, I tasted last week a cask sample from Ruck 07 Silvaner GG "Julius-Echter-Berg". WOW, WOW, WOW

I can only give my oppinion on Mosel wines from 2006. I think 2006 is a great year in the mosel and for a quite a few winemakers it was one of the best years they ever had. 2006 for Haart was brilliant, Willi Schaefer brilliant etc etc etc etc.
Is 2006 different then othere years I tasted? yes. Almost everything I had tasted like at least part of the grapes had noble rot. For some wines you need a knife and fork to consume them. I think that with a few years of age this vintage will turn out to be very good for the winemakers that made very low yields and only used the top quality grapes. The quantity high quality wines that could be made is low but the wines that are made are brilliant in my honest oppinion. In the mosel 2005, 2006 and 2007 have been great years and with years like 2001(I have no experience with this year but from what I heard it might be the best year of all), 2002 , 2003 and 2004 I think mosel lovers have been very lucky with the start of the 21th century.

[David M. Bueker]

Where 2006 is great it is truly great.

2006 is uneven, and a vintage to taste before buying in quantity. Some producers (e.g. Donnhoff) made fabulous wines across the board. Otehrs made some great wines and others not so great.

Really it is a vintage to go out, buy a mixed case of 12 bottles & see what you like then buy more of that. Doesn't that sound like fun?

David and Co...found this for you.

http://www.thewinedoctor.com/tastingsfo ... 007a.shtml