VINTAGE REPORTS
Vintage report 2006
The vintage 2006 will be remembered as a vintage of extremes. It began normally, without dramatic winter cold or damaging spring frosts. Flowering commenced on schedule during the second week of June with fantastic weather resulting in an abundant fruit set. Our hopes were set high for more prolific quantities to refill reserves depleted by the recent short harvests.
Extreme heat in July, which brought to mind the record-breaking temperatures of 2003, and fears of possible drought, was, however, short-lived. By the middle of August, rains and unseasonably-cool temperatures, unusual for our region at this time, slowed development dramatically. Persistent precipitation through the first weeks of September caused the berries? skin to become thinner and thinner, bringing new apprehension over the prospects for a good vintage.
Once again the fates turned, and at the end of September dry, warm and sunny weather returned and held through October, accelerating ripening. Light winds and temperatures reaching 22° Celsius, and never dropping below 15° Celsius even at night, encouraged moisture evaporation and concentration in the grapes.
With new concerns over possible pre-mature botrytis development, we began harvest earlier than usual at the end of September, bringing in ripe, luscious fruit suitable for our estate Riesling. After the first week of October we began picking for our Kabinett, followed by the other Prädikat wines.
The resulting wines are clean, concentrated and full-bodied: ranging from fine, filigreed Kabinett to powerful Spätlesen and Auslesen which can mature and be celebrated for decades.
