Iris, fresh lime, cherry, and raw almond in the nose of the Battenfeld-Spanier 2008 Hohen-Sulzer Kirchenstuck Riesling Grosses Gewachs leads to palate that nicely conjoins richness and fullness with tingling acidity and juiciness of peach, lime and cherry. Pistachio and almond cream add depth and appeal to a finish as soothing as it is refreshing. Today, the sheer exuberance of the corresponding village bottling makes it the better alternative, but this Grosses Gewachs should be worth following for at least 6-8 years and develop into the more complex and ultimately more imposing wine. Oliver Spanier – for a bit about whose distinctive sites and methods see issue 185 – harvested his 2008 vintage Rieslings from mid-October through the first week of November, and reports having performed no de-acidification.Importer: Domaine Select Wine Estates, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799