Opened a couple of bottles of Leitz's 08 releases with dinner tonight. Both were quite awesome, particularly the Klosterlay Kabinett. I'm really loving the '08 German Rieslings from what I've had so far - they certainly don't have the fruit density and richness of the '07s, but there's an acid-driven energy and focus to the wines I've had so far that has me hooked, and the two Kabinetts I've had from this vintage (the other being '08 Christoffel Treppchen) have been really brilliant wines.
2008 Josef Leitz Rüdesheimer Drachenstein Riesling "Dragonstone"
Another awesome Dragonstone - much lighter than it's been in the last few years, but really refreshing and great to drink with bright pear, green apple and citrus fruit flavours, hints of orange blossom and minerals and plenty of acidity underneath. Really good length with just a little sweetness; look forward to drinking more of this.
2008 Josef Leitz Rüdesheimer Klosterlay Riesling Kabinett
Really lovely with intense minty herbal notes over lime, pear and green apple flavours and a bed of minerals beneath. Very clear and focused in the mouth with racy, mouthwatering acidity that gives the fruit incredible freshness and razor-sharp precision, finishing long with the minty notes leaving a cool, refreshing sensation on the back end. I need to buy more of this!
). From what I've heard from more informed friends who recently tasted in Germany it's a relatively light vintage with higher acidity than what we've seen in the last few years, and the wines are generally weaker/fewer at the higher pradikats (Auslese+), whereas there's a lot of really good Kabinett/Spatlese. 