Alsace | 2020 vintage
First off, 2020 was a brilliant year for Alsace.
The weather conditions were quite particular with a surprisingly mild winter in this region that isn’t used to these temperatures. Spring seemed to have followed suit with warm weather. For several weeks, sunny weather and mild temperatures were accompanied very dry and windy conditions. All these factors evidently contributed to the vine’s development, which was helped by the return of the rain before summer and avoided the risk of drought like that seen in 2003. The vegetative cycle lasted longer than excepted, despite flowering occurring early in some areas from the end of May thanks to some pretty cool nights. This drawn-out cycle led to mixed ripening throughout the region.
During summer, the winemakers faced some extreme weather conditions. Very little rain fell which affected some areas more than others. More generally, the heat and drought were the common themes running throughout this unusual year with July being the hottest ever recorded by weather stations.
Harvests started on 24 August with the grapes destined to become crémants the first to be picked. Those for Alsace and Alsace grand crus came next, starting on 3 September, which were followed by the late harvest and sélections de grains nobles from 18 September onwards. The perfect conditions of sunny days and cool nights allowed the grapes to gain the optimum flavour levels all while retaining a good level of acidity.
The whole of the Alsace production shows signs of having a high level of quality. Except for the Muscats which are rather fruity and light, the Pinots Blanc, Pinots Gris and Gewurztraminer wines are generally ample and opulent. The Gewurztraminers have great characteristics and possess wonderful spiced notes coming from this hot year. The Sylvaners offer very rich profiles, but this variety’s low yields have considerably reduced the volume produced.
When it comes to the sparkling wines, the crémants are wonderfully complex. The same goes for the Pinot Noirs. Those which have gained quality over the years, reached new heights in 2020, being balanced with a delicate texture and fruity flavours. The Rieslings are both deep and taut at the same time, supported by a beautiful acidity.
