2018 Riesling Wallufer Walkenberg Auslese trocken

Hans-Josef and Eva Becker predictably commenced their 2018 harvest at a record-early date. But due to some supply problems, none of the wines were bottled until the eve of the 2019 harvest, factors that combined to give some of them longer lees exposure than usual. By contrast, at least one vintage 2018 Pinot Noir was bottled early – before the end of 2019 – prompted by its precariously high pH. But aside from that slight reservation as regards Pinot Noir, the Beckers were pleased with the blemish-free fruit of 2018 and its relative abundance. (For this estate, 60 hectoliters per hectare of Riesling is a lot. Details concerning Hans-Josef Becker’s remarkable career and unique Riesling methodology can be found in my extended introductions to those sets of notes that focused on vintages 2015 and 2016.)