”It cost me nerves,” reports Jan Eymael of his 2009 Scheurebe Spatlese trocken “because the fermentation was very slow,” and in fact this rather low-acid wine barely qualified for the imprimatur trocken. (Bear in mind though, that fermentations are normally over at this address before Christmas.) Mint and pink grapefruit rind on the nose are joined by succulent honeydew melon on a lush palate whose soothing texture and cool sense of mintiness offers a satisfying foil for the pungency of grapefruit and melon rinds. Like the corresponding dry Gewurztraminer, this is surprisingly low-key for its variety, but will offer lots of appeal as well as potential at table over the next 3-5 years. Jan Eymael elected to perform significant leaf-removal in order to permit his crop – especially the Scheurebe – to hang free, with the result, he explained, “that botrytis never really could establish itself” and the range of nobly sweet Scheurebe one generally looks forward to at this address is absent from 2009. Total acid levels are moderate this year, but the low pH levels in the grapes led Eymael to give his dry wines longer skin contact than usual to help buffer them. “Bear in mind that we’re one of the warmest spots in the Pfalz,” notes Eymael in connection with this year’s early, September 28, commencement of his Riesling harvest, though picking continued for nearly three weeks.Imported by Rudi Wiest, Cellars International, Carlsbad, CA; tel. 800 596 9463