2004 Germany

A more typical year in Germany this year with good levels of ripeness, but less heat than 2003. Some producers are citing this as, as good a vintage as 2001 and 2002. Most of the regions received such much needed rain, but harvested in dry conditions. The exception was the Rheinhessen were the drought continued.

There will be very good, correct Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese, but little in the way of Beerenauslese or Trockenbeerenauslese, as there was not much botrytis around this year.