So this year's grape adventure had it all. Imagine battling unpredictable weather for a summer and then throwing yourself into the harvest, armed with a shiny new cellar and a press. It was a bit chaotic at first, but our trusty team, friends and family pulled together in our little adopted hometown.
The figures? A whopping 9,000 gross litres from just 2 hectares of land. The harvest? A decent time from 15 September to 18 October. We started with the Pinot Noirs, each with its own character - Sonnenuhr, Klosterberg and Schloßberg, each in its own way. This time there was no red wine because the skins and tannins didn't want to play along. Instead, we opted for Blanc De Noir(s), Rosé and a small Rotling, all aged in new and neutral French oak.
Wir haben uns mit den Spätburgundern beeilt, um die lästigen „Säurefliegen“ zu vermeiden, die im Moseltal ihr Unwesen treiben. Die Trauben hatten zwischen 82 und 90 Öchsle und verführten uns mit einer Nase voller blumiger Noten – Rosenblätter und rote Früchte mischten sich im Saft vor der Gärung.
Then come Chardonnay and Bacchus, the newcomers to the group. They give us the chance to shake up the Kabinett stand and go beyond the usual KING (Pinot Noir) and QUEEN (Riesling). Bacchus makes itself at home with crisp Riesling bottled in a relaxed Petnat, while Chardonnay hangs out in French oak with a hint of Petnat vibes. We bring the diverse flavours of the Moselle to your glass, no fireworks, just really good wine.
Now it's Riesling's turn, stealing the limelight from our dry creations at every stage of the harvest. No fancy BA or TBA Rieslings this year - we were tempted, but even winemakers need a nap sometimes. The year was hot, the harvest dragged on and we had a lot of sorting to do, but the cool nights helped. We harvested every day for three weeks at the Maringer Sonnenuhr. The result was a Kabinett, a Spätlese and two bold Auslese wines, one from the Honigberg and the other from the Sonnenuhr. Beautiful white flowers and apple blossoms permeated the Riesling juices
In the cellar, we have switched to traditional fuder barrels. Part of this vintage is currently taking a winter nap. And the rest? It's in Pétillante Naturel, from When Life Gives You Lemons to Hip Hops, and a meeting with Bacchus for a relaxed release in December. Here's to a year of grape adventures and the promise of more to come.
Stay tuned & SANTÉ! 🍇🥂
Tanja, Philippe, Claire & Henry