2006 Spätburgunder Cuvée Max

Although August Kesseler is better known in Germany for his pinot noirs, his rieslings are more widely seen abroad. In 2007 his dry wines are a bit overblown, perhaps due to global warming, and the classical spatleses are unusually rich. Given the difficulties of 2006, he made no single-vineyard pinot noirs but his declassified "Max" was one of the highlights of that vintage in the Rheingau. (Baum Wine Imports, Bensenville, IL) Also recommended: 2007 Riesling Kabinett Trocken (87), 2007 Lorcher Schlossberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken (89), 2007 Lorcher Schlossberg Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule (92), 2007 Rudesheimer Berg Roseneck Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule (91), 2007 Rudesheimer Berg Roseneck Riesling Beerenauslese (93), 2007 Lorcher Schlossberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese (95), 2007 Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese (95), 2006 Pinot Noir (88).