Vintage 2010 – The wheat is separated from the chaff!

The very small yield can be estimated at 30- 50% below the normal figures, which means that Prädikat wine estates would have an average harvest yield of 40 hl/ hectares. “The unexpectedly high must weights have compensated for the large yield losses,” summarizes Matthias Müller, Mittelrhein region, the opinion of many VDP wine states. Similar low yields date back more than a quarter-century (e.g. 1980 or 1945). The largest challenge will in fact be the small yield that will only sufficiently supply the market by making the greatest efforts,” says Steffen Christman, president of the VDP Prädikat wine estates.

What has happened so far ... the vegetation in 2010 - The regionally changing course of the growing season was unique in 2010. Poor weather conditions at the time of flowering caused low yields and led to few and furthermore to smaller berries. In some areas, extreme hail storms (Pfalz and Rheinhessen) were another problem. Rain and cold in the second half of the summer were responsible for an overall slow development. Ripe and overripe berries were hanging next to unripe grapes on the vine because of the extremely heterogeneous maturation within a plot, sometimes even within a grape. It was therefore only possible to harvest healthy and ripe grapes by implementing a labor-intensive, consistent, repeated selection of the grape harvest and by hiring many motivated volunteers.

2010 is a year of manually working winegrowers -This initial situation was essential to implement measures which ensured quality. At the expense of further volume declines, the VDP vineyards, which are mainly first growth sites, were staggered, meaning that the grapes were picked by hand in several stages. Thus, the Prädikat Wine Estates managed to bring in healthy, uniformly ripe grapes despite the difficult conditions. At the moment, the musts present themselves very clearly and delicately fruity, with an abundance of extracts and aromas, full of excitement, fun and minerality. The independent character of the 2010 vintage will be characterized by a refreshing acidity, the acid levels were on average slightly higher than in the 2008 vintage. However, the alcohol level in this year naturally remains more moderate than in previous years. (red.yoopress)

Selected statements of winegrowers:

Schloss Vollrads, Rheingau: “We have planned two lots for ice wine. There, the grapes are very healthy, very small and loose and the stems of the grapes are healthy and woody. The acidity of 2010 vintage restores hope for extremely interesting and classical (characterized by acid) ice wines - if the winter frost is not letting us down.”

Jakob Jung, Rheingau: “There are not only large regional, but also differences depending on location and winemakers. In such complicated years such as 2010, the wheat is separated from the chaff.”

Staatsweingüter  Kloster Eberbach, Rheingau: “High-quality noble sweet wines could be produced. We have TBAs (Trockenbeerenauslese) from five different top sites.”

Schloss Johannisberg, Rheingau: “We had a very small harvest. We have only harvested 30 hl/ hectare. This is the level of 1980; we only harvested less in 1945.”

Heymann-Löwenstein, Mosel: “The vegetation in 2010 was in a constellation, which it has not been present in living memory. In particular, since the high must weights can only be partly attributed to the botrytis.  We have harvested grapes with 110 °. This is something I only thought would be theoretically possible.”

Schloss Lieser, Mosel: “Again, the quality is very high, even if the vintage itself is more demanding, particularly in regard to the picking and processing.”

S.A. Prüm, Mosel: "An ice wine harvest will not occur because the proportion of grapes affected by botrytis is too high. In addition, the expected acid values for ice wine are too high.”

Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, Mosel: "Our expectations in regard to quality were far exceeded. Most musts ultimately are between 88° and 100° Oechsle. A fantastic result, especially in regard to the prevailing pessimism. A vintage full of excitement, fun and minerality.”

St. Antony, Rheinhessen: “The acid was no longer a problem in good terroir as from October 10^th and will certainly revive the wines without appearing to be sharp. All in all, this vintage reminds of the vintages in 1996, 2004 or 2008, all vintages that hold for a long time and that ultimately offered high drinking fun and great fruit.”

Weingut am Stein, Franken: “We were still well below the average in Franken. We only harvested 42hl/hectare for example. However, the quality of late-ripening grape varieties (Riesling Sivaner) was surprisingly good.”

Domänenamt Castell, Franken: “In our view, the 2010 vintage is characterized by an elegant, fresh feature of Kabinett wines, ideal for lovers of German wine styles. There are only very small quantities with qualities expected good to very good in regard to dry top wines such as the Great Growths.”

Bürgerspital, Franken: “I think this vintage is better than its reputation. The wines had to be worked hard for, and the winemakers have made a large efforts for these wines.”

Julius Hospital, Franken: “Silvaner is the winner - both in regard to health and must weight. The first wines already show very clear fruit flavors at the end of fermentation, the acidity is well involved. The wines even meant a lot of work in the cellar- and much fun already.”

Ökonomierat Rebholz, Pfalz: “The great fall weather turned almost everything for the better – except for the yield. Riesling and Pinot brought us fully ripe, golden yellow grapes with only very slight decay in the form of noble botrytis. Thus, we were able to harvest grapes in Great Growth quality in all Erste Lage- vineyards.”

Emrich-Schönleber, Nahe: "We could harvest aromatic grapes for Spät- and Auslese wines and also for Great Growths, the signs are very good, despite the very small yield.”

Graf Adelmann, Württemberg: “Another year, in which you can recognize the “expert in viticulture and in the cellar!”

Matthias Müller, Mittelrhein:  “The acid is moving on above-average level. We expect the extra-rich, mineral Rieslings from the new vintage.”

Stigler, Baden:  “Our losses in yield, which amount to up to 30%, will be compensated by the very good quality.”