Alsace | 2001 vintage
The winter of 2001 was for the most part mild.
A difficult vintage but with some very good wine produced by the renowned wine-growers. The dull weather in September quashed any hope for a great vintage. The more patient wine-growers reaped the benefits of an exceptional October. The entire Alsace region had a very hot Indian summer with hardly a drop of rain from the beginning of the harvests right up until the end. This was extremely beneficial for the grapes which were continued to ripen while still conserving a good level of acidity. The Muscats and Gewurztraminers have a beautiful aromatic expression. 2001 is a great year for Riesling, which developed a very good level of concentration while still preserving its freshness. Although the Vendanges Tardives (Late Harvesting) and Sélections de Grains Nobles (Noble Berry Selection) are not comparable to the previous vintage, they were nevertheless worth the effort. It should be noted that in 2001 the minimum level of alcohol was raised for these two wines.