Alsatian wines: a high-flying 2020 vintage

A high-flyer

The beginning of winter brought mild temperatures for the season (January average +4°C compared to 2019). Late January, early February, it was looking like an early but maybe hit-and-miss vintage. Indeed, with maximum temperatures in excess of 10°C for fifteen days, the vines started producing 10 days ahead of 2019, exposing themselves to the winter frosts that are relatively frequent at this time of year. But fortunately, they never came.

With good early growth and mild temperatures, budburst ended in mid-April and branches began to grow nicely. Very soon, the first inflorescences emerged and the sweet perfume of the vine flowers warmed our hearts. The weather was kind to us, temperatures did not soar and there was good rainfall. The vine got water when it needed it. Disease was contained, and pressures kept under control.

During the summer, we enjoyed mild, warm but not excessively hot temperatures and rainfall here and there. The hillside plots benefit most from this type of climate. Bunches ripened before our eyes and we harvested just ahead of schedule. The race was on to prepare for an early vintage.

The harvest began on Tuesday, September 15th in the locality of Fels, enjoying an Indian summer that has become commonplace in Alsace (17°C in the morning and 36°C in the afternoon). The changing ripeness calls the tune for harvesting and one thing naturally follows another. Buehl is harvested on September 17th and then Berg in the same time. On September 23th, the Sélections Parcellaires was brought in. We finished the 2020 vintage by harvesting the Riesling Via Saint-Jacques on September 30th. In the cellar, the 2020 vintage is beginning to take on its rightful character, presaging good Quality. The cooler summer brought good acidity and balance. The fruit notes stand out beautifully against the minerality of the schist. 2020 is looking to be a highflyer with some fine aromas.

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