Lemon, lime, pineapple, and an alluring hint of linden inform the nose of Barmes-Buecher’s 2007 Riesling Tradition, with white peach and citrus tinged by brown spices making for a refreshing, juicy finish. For all its simplicity this is irresistible and impeccably balanced, its single-digit residual sugar supporting the fruit rather than engendering a taste of sweetness per se. I would plan to enjoy it over the next 2-3 years but it will probably hold for twice that long, though what will replace its youthful charm then I won’t speculate. There is as usual a lot of fascinating wine in Francois Barmes’ constantly shifting, hugely diverse as well as just plain huge 2007 collection, though the level of success was on the whole consistent. As in the past, though, I remained relatively unconvinced by Barmes’ way with Pinot Gris, despite its being a grape that elsewhere revealed special potential in 2007. I can’t say 2006 here represents an advertisement for Barmes’ conscientious and long-standing biodynamic practices, but then, in a year of rampant rot, surely the absence of anti-botrytis sprays has to have been sorely felt at many biodynamic estates. There were a couple of 2006s here too fungal to recommend, with the majority of what was a reduced line-up meriting mild recommendation provided they are drunk-up soon.Importer: Sussex Wine Merchants, Moorestown, NJ; tel. (856) 608 9644; also, a Thomas Calder Selection (various importers), Paris; fax 011-33-1-46-45-15-29