2009 Scheurebe Haardter Mandelring Spätlese

This estate has always been known for its incomparable noble late-harvest wines. Again in 2009, no one else in the Pfalz produced such a fine selection of auslese, beerenauslese and trockenbeerenauslese. In particular, the rieslaners were stunning, as if they had been bred on the Mosel. The dry wines, while often good, are less consistent and certainly no longer in the archetypical style made by Hans-Gunter Schwarz, for which the estate was once famous. The current winemaker here is from the Mosel and makes lighter, crisper rieslings. Also recommended: 2009 Haardt Scheurebe Kabinett Trocken (85), 2009 Haardt Muskateller Kabinett Trocken (88), 2009 Haardter Herrenletten Weissburgunder Spatlese Trocken (89), 2009 Haardter Herrenletten Grauburgunder Spatlese Trocken (87), 2009 Mussbach Riesling Kabinett Trocken (85), 2009 Gimmeldingen Riesling Kabinett Trocken (86), 2009 Haardter Herrenletten Riesling Spatlese Trocken (86), 2009 Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Spatlese Trocken (87), 2009 Gimmeldingen Mandelgarten Riesling Spatlese Trocken (86), 2009 Gimmeldingen Mandelgarten Riesling Spatlese (86). Other wines tasted: 2009 Weissburgunder Trocken MC, 2009 Riesling Trocken MC, 2009 Haardter Riesling Trocken.