Alsace | 2003 vintage
2003, the earliest vintage since 1893! A hot spring and a scorching summer significantly accelerated the vegetative state of the vine so the grapes were harvested particularly early. The quality of the vintage differs tremendously depending on the terroirs, clay-limestone soils being the most resilient. The Sylvaner and Pinot Noir were particularly good thanks to their remarkable ripeness. As for the noble grapes, the water shortage caused a dramatic drop in the yields of the younger vines, especially for the Gewurztraminers. However, the Grands Crus are still excellent, with an outstanding amplitude and oily texture. The wines of the Vendanges Tardives (Late Harvests) produced a very low quantity of grapes and the absence of noble rot prevented the production of any Sélection de Grains Nobles (Selection of Noble Berries). Due to their low acidity, the majority of these wines should be ready to drink fairly quickly.
