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The 2009 Crémant d'Alsace grapes have been harvested !

The harvest has started for almost two weeks. Now, it is time to look over these first days again.
 

The ripening of the grapes has been speeded up by the summer temperatures of these last weeks. In the earliest places of Turckheim, you notice that some parcels have been affected by the intense heats of the summer. So, we have decided to start the harvest of the Crémant d'Alsace grapes early, monday the 7^th of September.

Remind the production of a Crémant d'Alsace requires ripe grapes, of course, but the acidity level has to be high and sugar richness relatively low, 11% being ideal.

• First we pick the parcels located in the lowlands of Turckheim and Ingersheim (Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris), the yields look rather low and the first cuvee is 11,8% !                   
  
• The two large Chardonnay parcels are also very ripe but they have kept a nice acidity.
  

• Thursday, we harvest all the Pinot Noir from the lowlands with a strengthened team. These berries look like small black marbles, certainly the best Pinot Noir we have ever picked in these parcels ! The yields of these plots are also very small.

• To finish this first week, we fetch the Auxerrois from Walbach and Husseren. These high parcels, close to the forest, look promising : 10.5% and a good acidity. These juices will balance the first we have brought home.

During the first harvest week, the pickers have enjoyed a wonderful weather. These temperatures, however, are too high for the grapes : the acidities come down rapidly and the juices come very warm in the cellar ! 

The next week is still dry, but a little cooler, specially the nights !

• Monday, our team harvests the second part of the Crémant Auxerrois, then moves to the Pinot Gris from Turckheim. These grapes are so ripe and coloured , that a few tourists buying wine at the cellar, are convinced that we are picking Pinot Noir !
  

• Tuesday the last Crémant are picked. These Riesling also show a top maturity level for a 15^th of September : 10.5%.

• The last maturity controls have shown that the two Muscat varieties (Alsace and Ottonel) are almost at the same stage ! The first plots are taken home Wednesday.
  

Thursday morning, a little rain keeps us from picking. We decide to stop for this week. There is no rush anymore, all the early parcels have been harvested.

The first cuvees from these 8 hectares incline us to be optimistic. 2009 could be a very good vintage...

Friday 18th of September 2009