of course you're right to be concerned. I am too, and I was not making my point clearly enough: When I referred to rising alcohol levels, I didn't mean that that in itself is a sign of a rise in quality. On the contrary, 15% in a Pinot Noir are (to put it less politely than you have) unacceptable. What I meant is that whatever problems german reds may have, ripeness is no longer one of them, since that is what you probably implied when wondering if german Syrahs can be as good in 'normal' years.
Are "international" red grapes the way forward in german reds? First of all, I don't so much see Pinot Noir being replaced by Syrah & Co., I think the "victims" would rather be traditional lighter reds like Portugieser, Trollinger and so on, and white grapes, as this is where the long-term shift is going. There certainly won't be a german Hermitage or a german Margaux in our lifetime, but I can see good and interesting Cru Bourgeois quality on the horizon. If this happens without throwing Pinot under the bus (which, again, I don't see happening), who's complaining?
In reply to Thanks for the ramble:) by David Strange
Acohol levels, Syrah
Hi David,
of course you're right to be concerned. I am too, and I was not making my point clearly enough: When I referred to rising alcohol levels, I didn't mean that that in itself is a sign of a rise in quality. On the contrary, 15% in a Pinot Noir are (to put it less politely than you have) unacceptable. What I meant is that whatever problems german reds may have, ripeness is no longer one of them, since that is what you probably implied when wondering if german Syrahs can be as good in 'normal' years.
Are "international" red grapes the way forward in german reds? First of all, I don't so much see Pinot Noir being replaced by Syrah & Co., I think the "victims" would rather be traditional lighter reds like Portugieser, Trollinger and so on, and white grapes, as this is where the long-term shift is going. There certainly won't be a german Hermitage or a german Margaux in our lifetime, but I can see good and interesting Cru Bourgeois quality on the horizon. If this happens without throwing Pinot under the bus (which, again, I don't see happening), who's complaining?
Best, Julian