News

The 2006 vintage !

June 1^st : the clusters that will make 2007 are already formed and we find ourselves speculating about the next harvest...
Perhaps it is time to take stock of the 2006 vintage, which has been "sleeping" in our cellars for the long winter period.


We should first remind the 2006 weather conditions : The winter has been harsh and long. The heat wave of June and July allowed the vines to make up the lost time, and August, damp and fresh, calmed and balanced them. Finally the wonderful first weeks of September achieved the maturation of the grapes.

After September 17th, several heavy rainfalls ruined the hopes of great vintage. The TV news have relayed desolation pictures : spoiled grapes harvested under the rain ! Six months later, what is the result of that harvest ?

After the tasting of the first 2006's in bottles, we can say that we are far from the predicted disaster !

All the efforts we have consented to do last autumn were worth it : quick picking, sorting of all the grapes in the vineyard, carefully winemaking... By eliminating all the spoiled grapes, we have of course reduced the yields, but the harvest brought to the presses was clean, perfectly ripe and balanced.

2006 is a "winegrower year". Nature did not make things easy, only the work and discipline of man made the difference !


These first appreciations show that we have little overreacted last autumn. All the fears about this harvest were not justified : The wines are very fruity, balanced and they are not marked by the rain. All these cuvees are already expressive and pleasant.

• The Crémant have been picked early and are wonderfull.
• Muscat is not as powerful as the great 2005, but it is very fruity and fresh.
• The Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer Réserve Personnelle take advantage of the best grapes. Most of the parcels we usually use to produce late harvest or special selections are blended into the Personal Reserve in 2006. These wines are charming, clean, complex, in the style of the latest vintages.
• Thanks to a strict sorting, the Pinot Noir exhibits a nice colour and a good structure, like the 2005.
• The Grand Cru Hengst, Brand and Sommerberg are still closed but show a great potential.
• The only deception : the Sylvaner. It will not be released in 2006 !

We are currently blending and preparing the first 2006 cuvees. They will be bottled in the next weeks. The Rosé 2006, available since may has already a great success in restaurants.

Do not hesitate to discover the 2006s. You will enjoy these fruity wines !

june 5th 2007