Geheimrat actually means "privy councillor" in German, and it was a title given to advisors at princely courts in the old Holy Roman Empire. It may also have been the inspiration when the then young sommelier Ralph Frenzel, in the early 1980s, asked the country's producers for a dry German Riesling.
At that time, all the wines were sweet or off-dry. Eventually, the producer Wegeler agreed to make a dry version, which they called Geheimrat. And so, with the 1983 vintage, Geheimrat "J" first saw the light of day. Made with grapes from 15 different Erste Gewächs vineyards. It was only produced in good vintages, as it still is today.
Now it has arrived in the brilliant and cool 2013 vintage, which means this 13-year-old Riesling is perfectly mature now, even though it will keep for a long time in the cellar. And not least, a wine that truly offers great value for money.