Smelling both vintage- and site-typically of heliotrope, apple, grapefruit, and honeysuckle, the Richter 2008 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett comes onto the palate with juicy refreshment, delicacy, and lift, serving as something of a relaxed alter-ego to electrically-charged and relentless Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett. It finishes with persistent flowers and fruit as well as a kiss of wet stone, and should prove enjoyable for the next decade. “We had the November weather in October, and the lovely October weather in November,” says Dirk Richter of 2008, thereby essentially explaining his harvest strategy. He ameliorated acidity through skin contact; nature helped by precipitating tartrates; and nonetheless, some wines were de-acidified already as must. Richter is pleased to characterize the results as “classic Mosel Rieslings,” and since Richter spends a great deal of time promoting his wines in the U.S. I am happy to be able to concur in that description, even if some of his 2008s are only modestly successful. Richter admits that this collection is likely at least for the short term to be overshadowed by those on either side of it, but speculates that the 2008s will have their day if given time. Importer: Langdon-Shiverick Cleveland,?OH; tel. (216) 861-6800