2007 is part of the unusual years which can boast being a great vintage!
A unanimously saluted vintage year and impatiently awaited!
After a very mild winter, a very summer-like spring period (exceptional warmth which resulted in early budding and led to a flowering around May 25!), the months of June, July and August were marked by numerous rainy episodes and fairly chilly periods. This subdued weather meant having to forget about the advance of spring But thanks to these atmospheric conditions, the ripening stage was slow and perfect for all the grape varieties, allowing freshness and fruitiness to be preserved.
The harvest started under the best conditions for AOC Crémant d’Alsace.
First off, the professionals picked all the grapes grown on the most early-ripening terroirs. Alsace then had a most wonderful month of September with extraordinary anti-cyclonic conditions! Warm days and chilly nights combined with basically zero rainfall guaranteed optimum ripening conditions. The professionals slowly rushed to harvest perfectly ripe and very healthy grape varieties. We were really able to establish some specific planning for harvest dates. Quality and quantity were both present!
The harvest starting dates were as follows: August 22 for AOC Crémant d’Alsace (except for Riesling and Chardonnay – on August 27) and September 5 for still wines (except for Riesling and Gewurztraminer – September 10). Regarding the Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles, the start date was September 19.
From a quantity point of view, 1,151,749 hl was produced, making an increase of 6.5% compared to 2006. (916,044 hl for AOC Alsace and Alsace Grand Cru and 235,705 hl for AOC Crémant d’Alsace).
Pinot Noir has a lot of colour and radiates hints of small red fruits, an aromatic palate of redcurrant to black cherry. Pinot Gris is particularly intense with very honey-like touches but often sustained by a ripe acidity. If Riesling required a longer ripening period, they are all very fruity (citrus fruit) and with an incredible elegance around the freshness. Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc are both very distinct. Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc are both very distinct.
To cap it all off, the superb late autumn climatic conditions allowed for many batches of Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles to be produced, even exceeding the record year of 1997!
CIVA: Interprofessional Committee of Alsace Wine
April 2008
There are never two harvests which are alike! Each year, the different climatic conditions impose a natural framework which wine-makers learn to manage. The vintage year transmits these variations into the wine quality perception. It furthermore provides indications for how long it should age once bottled.
Review the last 20 vintage years and those which have entered into the legend of great wines: