A Deinhard 2008 Deidesheimer Herrgottsacker Riesling Spatlese halbtrocken is pithier, more concentrated, if less charming and buoyant than the corresponding Kabinett. Apple and grapefruit, toasted almond and brown spices inform a firm, refreshing palate, and the strong finish hints at emerging mineral intrigue. This grew at the extreme, highest edge of the huge Herrgottsacker, where it is steep – in dramatic contrast to 90% of its acreage. Nearby are some ancient, undisturbed terraces and old vines whose fruit Attmann and Jaillet will incorporate into future bottlings. For general updates on the change of ownership and radical recent developments at this venerable estate, I refer readers to my report in issue 185. The official winery name is now Von Winning and the Dr. Deinhard label will be used only for selected wines, not including any of the ostensibly top dry bottlings. I have conjoined the names, and continued to use Dr. Deinhard as a shorthand, because that is still how this winery is routinely referred to (even inside Germany), and readers should simply be on the lookout for either of these names on a label as an indication that it came from the winery in question (and, what’s more, is worth tasting). Young wine-geek-as-director Stefan Attmann – another of the many protegees of Hans-Gunter Schwarz, whose friend Joachim Niederberger now owns the winery – is attacking his work here with frenetic passion, but you have only to taste the latest crop of wines to recognize what discipline and determination he and his vineyard manager Joachim Jaillet (with whom I toured their sites) also bring to their jobs. Aspects of vinification worth bearing in mind are skin contact; near-absence of sedimentation; largely spontaneous fermentation; absence of fining; and filtration only immediately before bottling. (Common practice with German Riesling is still to filter at least twice.) “No risk, no fun,” is among Attmann’s mottos, though as he pointed out, the low pHs and cool weather of 2008 improved one’s odds. The U.S. importer, incidentally, offered last year a much extended range of 2007s, so that with two exceptions the stateside prices for wines of the 2008 vintage have not been set, although many can be expected to arrive here in the course of 2010. Precisely which wines of Deinhard will in future be bottled as Grosses Gewachs remains up in the air. The winery is promoting several individual parcels – i.e. not official post 1971 Einzellagen – for this status.Terry Theise Estate Selections, imported by Michael Skurnik Wines, Inc., Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300

This wine was recommended, but no tasting note was given.Importer: Terry Theise Estate Selections, imported by Michael Skurnik Wines, Inc., Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300

Syrupy minerals and spices are found in the aromatics as well as flavors of the 2001 Riesling Spatlese Halbtrocken Deidesheimer Hergottsacker. This effort is reminiscent of someone who is trying to get somewhere, has all the ability to do so, but simply cannot. It contains all the attributes of an excellent wine, the concentration, breadth, balance, soft texture, elegance, and length, yet comes across as disjointed. Time will tell if it sorts itself out. Drink it between 2007 and 2015.