|
|
 |
| HOME › HARVEST DIARY |
| 03. 11. 2003 |
|
During the last week of October the grapes made an important step in terms of their aromas. At the beginning of the month they still had a lot of freshness, but were also relatively simple in character. As the month progressed, they became more and more subtle and fine, and they have now reached a peak of intensity – aromatic components we cannot even describe. Autumnal would be the only word that springs to mind.
The harvest notes may at times seem confusing with their different vineyard names, etc. There is, of course a system behind all this: the wine should be characterized by its grape variety, vineyard, and vintage, and not by a particular harvest date, unless the latter is explicitly mentioned on the label. In order to privilege vintage and origin, it is better to harvest part of the grapes at a “normal” date, and to supplement this with grapes harvested later, which can be used like spice, for complexity and depth, but which would be too concentrated on their own.
Today, on November 3rd, the day greets is with brilliant sunshine. We believe we can finish the 2003 vintage by the end of the week, when we will also publish an overview of the entire harvest.
Finally, may we tell you a little secret? Not only different weeks and days of the harvest are different from one another. There are significant differences even between the times of the day. During cool years, harvesting will start during late morning, after the grapes have dried in the sun.
During a year such as 2003, while the grapes are almost boils by the sun, with thick skin and pips, but almost without juice, it is sensible to benefit from the dew on the grapes harvested early in the morning for the lighter wines.
Our Grüner Veltliner “Leicht&Trocken” and “Kamptaler Terrassen”, which should always show a pleasant, vinous character, are harvested very early, while Käferberg and Lamm wait until the afternoon in order to obtain a maximum of concentration and density.
|
|
|
|
