Herbs, lime, salt, and green apple inform a pungent and invigorating 2007 Monzinger Riesling trocken based largely on the so-called “pre-harvest” or first passes on the vineyard. For all of its pep, though, this boasts an alluringly silken texture, and the finish exhibits real lift and distinctive suffusion of crushed stone. As light as it seems on the palate, one would not guess this had even the 12% of alcohol that is present. Enjoy this over the next 3-4 years. To say that Werner and son Frank Schonleber have been on a roll lately must count as an understatement (and that applies to 2008, too). Two heads are better than one, no doubt, plus the advantages of accumulated wisdom and acreage – the family is filling-in what was once a decidedly, in places depressingly patchy landscape by buying up prime parcels from retiring vintners – are obvious. The Schonlebers went over their vineyards in early October to pull out some botrytis that had already accumulated and to thin their crop, and began seriously harvesting Riesling after the 10th. The estate’s vines were largely spared savage but capricious hail that rained down on parts of the Fruhlingsplatzchen. Werner Schonleber draws a stylistic comparison with the 2002 vintage, which he convincingly demonstrated with several bottles.Imported by Sussex Wine Merchants, Moorestown, NJ; tel. (856) 608 9644; also imported by Dee Vine Wines, San Francisco, CA tel. (877) 389- 9463