ALSACE WINES 2010 – SMALL YIELDS, TERRIFIC FRESHNESS

Freshness, fruit and limited yields are the hallmarks of the 2010 vintage in Alsace.

In Alsace, each vintage brings its own challenges and opportunities. Variations in weather – and the impact of these climatic phenomena on the way our vines are managed – give each vintage a unique character. For those hard at work in our vineyards, 2010 was a complex year – one might even say it was a difficult one. Truth be told, it’s rare for a vintage to be so marked by climatic variations.

Winter was hard and long. Temperatures plummeted to extremes (on the 19th of December 2009, the region around Colmar registered -20ºC). Younger vines, in particular, were badly affected (buds were frozen) – Gewurztraminer especially so. Budbreak was late, taking place towards mid-April, and at the start of May the weather was chilly and damp. Luckily, warmer temperatures at the end of May permitted the vines to catch up on themselves. Flowering, which began around the 20th of June, was prolonged due to the frosts and the uneven budbreak. The prolongation of the relatively cool temperatures affected fruit set, resulting in coulure and millerandage (particularly in the case of the Muscat Ottonel and Gewurztraminer vines). Subsequently, the very warm temperatures experienced in early July allowed the vines to speed up the ripening process, and curbed the risk of disease in the vineyards. As harvest approached, various measurements of ripeness confirmed a high concentration of sugars in the grapes, as well as raised levels of acidity. However, due to the erratic weather, ripeness was uneven, both in terms of individual varieties and in terms of vineyard parcels across the region. It was necessary to keep vine vigour under tight control in order to prevent rot from setting in.

The Comité Régional d’Experts des Vins d’Alsace (CRINAO) set the following dates for the 2010 harvest:

1. Monday 13 September for AOC Crémant d’Alsace
2. With a few notable exceptions (Kaefferkopf and Pfingstberg – a week late; Altenberg de Bergheim and Kanzlerberg – two weeks’ delay), harvest in AOC Alsace and AOC Alsace Grand Cru vineyards began on Monday 27 September.
3. Tuesday 12 October was the date set for the start of the harvest of Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles.
   
   As the harvest got underway, optimism returned to the region after the 15th of September – along with blue skies and sunshine! Acidity levels had developed nicely, while sugar levels climbed thanks to the noticeably low yields. The wines of the 2010 vintage are both fresh and fruity, a characteristic often associated with Alsace’s wines – and this bodes well for their ageing potential. Wine-making knowledge and experience was vital in order to perfect the balance of these wines (particularly in terms of lees ageing). In the end, however, the region’s professionals have been delighted by the quality of the wines created in 2010.
   
   Thanks to high – albeit ripe and balanced – levels of acidity, the Crémants d’Alsace have proved a huge success. Muscats and Pinot Blancs show both lively acidity and bright fruit. The Pinot Noirs have lots of fruit and colour thanks to the potential for good levels of extraction. Gewurztraminer yields were noticeably low this year, nevertheless the wines are incredibly fruity and floral (rose), albeit less spicy than in 2009. Their characteristic richness has been perfectly balanced by the freshness of this vintage. The Pinot Gris avoided any disease developments in 2010. The wines are pure, rich in fruit, noticeably aromas of ripe pears, and balanced. Riesling yields were low, but the wines show both high levels of acidity and citrus aromas, showing great promise in terms of ageing potential. Given that the weather during the last part of the harvest season failed to provide ideal conditions for the development of noble rot, and the low yields typical of the year, the volume of Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles wines produced this year was also low. Nevertheless, what sweet wines were produced are extremely high in quality.
   
   In terms of volume, total production was 911,950 hectolitres (hl), down 21.8% on 2009 (-26.8% for still wines, with a total of 670,880hl, and -3.7% for Crémant d’Alsace, with a total of 241,070hl produced).
   
   In terms of sales, 2010 saw total volumes of 1,100,000hl, down slightly (by 1.5%) on the equivalent figures of 2009. The principal drop came from the domestic market (down 2.8%). Exports rose by 2.5%. AOC Crémant d’Alsace has seen continuous growth, with volumes of 243,000hl sold (up 0.7% in major French cities and 6.5% in terms of exports).