2001 Gimmeldinger Eselshaut Rieslaner Auslese

Muller-Catoirx000D Hans-Gunter Schwarz has retired after 41 years of guiding this estate to thex000D apex of German viticulture. Actually,x000D he says his will be an "unretirement" involving active consultingx000D work for which, heaven knows, potential clients will eagerly line up.x000D Schwarz choice as successor did not workx000D out, and as a result there is now an entirely new team in place, headed byx000D Martin Franzen, who will have to divide his time with Weingut Nagelsforst inx000D Baden until the end of this year. x000D Franzen, who comes from the Mosel, was responsible for the cellar atx000D Schlossgut Diel when that estate produced its outstanding 1996 collection.x000D To say that there is a sense of anticipationx000D about the future would be to put it mildly. x000D Meanwhile, the 2001s, which have proven to be Schwarz parting legacyx000D to Muller-Catoir, continue a recent stylistic trend toward greater elegance andx000D refinement and somewhat less sheer power. x000D I found a number of the dry wines less convincing than usual; thex000D fireworks here were among the wines with residual sweetness.x000D (Terry Theise)Also recommended: 2001 Neustader Monchgarten Weissburgunderx000D Spatlese Trocken, 2001 Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten Riesling Kabinett Trocken,x000D 2001 Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Spatlese Trocken A.P. #24, 2001x000D Gimmeldinger Schossl Rieslaner Spatlese.