The first in a trio of superb vintages and especially outstanding for Riesling. Late bud break and a damp and cold spring resulted in outbreaks of coulure - this affected the subsequent size of the vintage, which was down on average by 25%. The summer was hot and dry, although the weather broke in September with persistent rain, much cooler temperatures. What made the vintage was the extraordinary Indian summer that occurred in October - consequently a late harvest was the key to success, with some growers underperforming by harvesting too early.

The best wines are rich, concentrated and have the structure and weight to reward long-term ageing. The Rieslings are very successful and the late harvest wines are amongst the finest to be seen since the glorious 1990s.