2007 Riesling Rauenthaler Nonnenberg

This estate has long specialized in dry rieslings, which today account for 90% of its total production. When conditions permit, few estates do it better and even fewer dry rieslings mature more gracefully over time than these. Each year, I do a "ten years after" tasting of the nearly 50 top wines from my old guide to see which dry rieslings are in best form. Since Bernhard Breuer's death in 2004, the winner is awarded the Breuer Memorial Trophy. Last year the prize went to his own estate for its 1997 Schlossberg. This year, the 1998 Nonnenberg from Breuer was among the five finalists. As in 2008, the wines from the Nonnenberg site in Rauenthal do better in years when the vineyards in Rudesheim produce wines that are too austere. (Classical Wines, Seattle, WA) Also recommended: 2007 Grauer Burgunder (88), 2007 Riesling Rudesheim Estate (86), 2007 Riesling Rauenthal Estate (88), 2007 Rudesheimer Berg Roseneck Riesling Trocken (88+?), 2007 Rudesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Trocken (89), 2007 Riesling "Terra Montosa" (87), 2007 Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese (94). Other wines tasted: 2007 Riesling Sauvage.