2008 Germany

2008 continues the run of excellent vintages in Germany, with comparisons being made to the wonderfully pure 2004 vintage.  Cool autumn weather enabled grapes to ripen gradually and remain healthy; the wines are crisp and mineral, displaying a fresh, fruity acidity.  Little botrytis was seen but following an extremely cold winter there are small quantities of delicious Eiswein.

Without botrytis, 2008 is a classic Kabinett/Spatlese vintage and for the ‘dry style' wines; the extended ripening period producing grapes bursting with fruit and perfectly balanced acidity.  Residual sugar levels are slightly lower than in the three preceding vintages.  Many 2008s are ready to drink now but will keep well and, in true Riesling form, will give pleasure for many years to come.  This is a vintage for Riesling lovers and one I will be stocking up on.
Justin Bryant, Seckford Wines


Contact James Maitland to order - +44 (0)1394 446610 - james@seckfordwines.co.uk  


The Growers

Helmut Donnhoff
Dr. Loosen
von Schubert
Willi Schaefer


Donnhoff, Nahe

2008 Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett
Very racy. Lifted. Crunchy grainy fruit. (17 points) Drink 2010-2016
HD01) £120 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford


2008 Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese
Creamy, quite explosively mineral on the nose. Lovely purity and history in this wine. So communicative. Everything in balance. Just wonderful stuff. Not that sweet. You're not really conscious of the sugar level because it just seems to be in balance. (18 points) Drink 2010-2018
HD02) £250 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford
HD03) £48 per magnum in bond Seckford - limited availability


2008 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese
Rich and firm and dense with a great spine of acidity. Lime and minerals. Classic stuff. (17.5 points) Drink 2010-2020
HD04) £270 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford (guideline bottle price £26.19)
HD05) £52 per magnum in bond Seckford - limited availability


2008 Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs (Grand Cru) ‘dry style'
Not available for tasting yet, but a 2007 Dellchen Grosses Gewachs tasted earlier this month was becoming a glorious wine just as the glass was emptied! Intense minerality and concentration on the palate. Racy and complex; no wonder the growing demand for this Spatlese Trocken "dry style".
HD06) £280 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford


2008 Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Eiswein
Quite extraordinary! Lots of real fresh richness. Real integrity and life. Complex with a great panoply of ingredients. Lime and green leaves and more than just pure sweetness. Pear juice in spades. (18.5 points) 2010-2020
HD07) £495 per 6 halves in bond Seckford


Dr. Loosen, Mosel

2008 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
Pure, firm minerally nose. Very sleek and slimline. Pure mountain stream fruit - very winning and open and advanced with a hit of white peach. (17 points) Drink 2009-2013
DL01) £90 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford


2008 Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett
Very light nose with crackling fruit but still pretty tight. Attractive delicacy though no shortage of pure fruit. (17 points) Drink 2011-2015
DL02) £96 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford


2008 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese
Strong slate and white peach - really very winning and mouthfilling. Just a bit more stuffing and sweetness than the Kabinett. (17.5 points) Drink 2010-2017
DL03) £150 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford
DL04) £30 per magnum in bond Seckford - limited availability


2008 Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese
Deep, rich, relatively heavy but still tightly furled on the nose with a hint of paprika and firm minerals and red fruits. (17.5 points) Drink 2012-2018
DL05) £150 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford


2008 Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese
Still very reserved on the nose. Pure elderflowers and delicate apple juice. Very embryonic. (17.5 points) Drink 2013-2020
DL06) £170 per 6 bottles in bond Seckford


Maximin Grunhaus, Ruwer

2008 Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett
Peach and apricot stone fruit; more tropical flavours in the Herrenberg (compared to Abtsberg).  A delicious aperitif. (Seckford) Drink to 2014
MG01) £100 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford


2008 Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett
Very slightly funky/natural yeasty on the nose with masses of ripe fruit and a slight lack of elegance on the palate. Pretty punchy and certainly very confident. 8% (16 points) Drink 2009-2015
MG02) £110 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford


2008 Herrenberg Riesling Spatlese
This really sings; lovely balance. The extra weight and sweetness of Spatlese give this roundness and complexity. What joy now and to come. (Seckford) Drink 2011-2016+
MG03) £120 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford


2008 Abtsberg Riesling Spatlese
Broad and exciting and very dramatic. Very pure and alive and wild. Well done! Still a little chewy on the finish. (17.5 points) Drink 2011-2019
MG04) £130 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford
MG05) £32 per magnum in bond Seckford - limited availability
MG06) £65 per double magnum in bond Seckford - limited availability


2008 Abtsberg Riesling Superior ‘dry style'
Started in 2005 - best clones and low yields. Lively. Very chewy and fine. (17 points) Drink 2009-2013
MG07) £170 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford


2008 Herrenberg Riesling Eiswein
Appley, lively, sherbetty with more than a hint of flowers. Amazing amounts of acidity. Quite painful to taste at this point. Reminds me of Edinburgh rock. Should give lots of pleasure. (18 points) Drink 2012-2018
MG08) £400 per 6 halves in bond Seckford


Willi Schaefer, Mosel

2008 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett #3
Very racy and polished, with crystalline citrus fruit and a lovely mouth-filling finish. Drink 2010-2014
WS01) £100 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford


2008 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #10
Juicy and racy. Lots of lively lime fruit. Acidity is quite notable. I'd wait for this to develop some more. (17 points) Drink 2013-2020
WS02) £140 per 12 bottles in bond Seckford

All tasting notes by Jancis Robinson MW from www.jancisrobinson.com

Contact James Maitland to order - +44 (0)1394 446610 - james@seckfordwines.co.uk