Germany 2009 – predictions of greatness

Michael Schmidt, who last month gave us an excellent and detailed account of the 2008 and 2007 Grosse Gewächse German wines, sends this round-up of confident reactions in Germany to the quality of the 2009 harvest. See also yesterday's offical report for more on this year's small crop. (Photo shows Riesling in the Absterde vineyard, Rheinhessen, courtesy of Klaus Peter Keller.)

Seldom has there been more agreement from all corners of the German wine-producing world regarding one single vintage: now that all the grapes bar the minute Eiswein contingent are in the cellars, the quality of the 2009 harvest...