2006 Vintage

The weather in 2006 was ideal for vine growth. Budbreak at the end of April was free of frost, and a rapid flowering at the end of June led to ripe bunches at the beginning of October. However, warm and humid weather before and during the harvest necessitated careful selection. At the outset, we gathered very healthy grapes for the dry and off-dry wines; towards the end, painstaking selection brought us grapes for high-quality Auslesen, as well as a Beerenauslese from the Abtsberg. Owing to the extreme shrivelling of the grapes, yields were down to 30 hl/ha, as in 2005. The 2006s are very spicy and mineral with lots of concentrated extract and a lively fruit/acid balance.

Almost all cuvées in the cellar were fermented with wild yeasts, which ensures that the basis of our vines – Devonian slate – is clearly reflected in the wines. The ageing potential is also greatly enhanced.

In this year we changed our internal classification system in the QbA area (Bruderberg wines excepted). We now only offer Maximin Grünhäuser Riesling QbA in dry, off-dry and sweet categories. This enables us to produce wines from our two great sites, the Herrenberg and Abtsberg, irrespective of vineyard boundaries. With strict selection we make wines that express all the virtues of Grünhaus Rieslings: a fine minerality, delicate racy acidity, lively well-balanced fruit with a multitude of complex aromas, and a superb capacity to age.