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Europe Trip

Just got back from visiting Burgundy and Germany. In Burgundy did some barrel tasting of the 05 vintage. Just about all of the reds I tasted were classic. The whites were very good. I am told that when released they will be pretty expensive. I also tasted some of the 06 wines that just finished fermentation. The reds at this stage, I believe will be good and the whites better.

In the Mosel most were finished with the harvest or about to finish in a few days. Very early harvest. Corp is small. Just about every class of grapes have been touched by botrytis. Sugar levels are very high but for the most part have very good acid. Crop appears to be like the 76 vintage but with good acid. Very little QBA and Kabinett.

The Pfalz very bad.

Rhiengau will have a small but good to very good wines. Not much QBA or Kabinett, but more than the Mosel. Harvest is finished. Again high sugar levels but good acid.

Reply to
sibeer
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Friends making wine in Sauternes and Coteaux du Layon report a mediocre year in Sauternes and an OK year in Layon. No wonder, it rained most of august in Bordeaux, so despite PR painting a rosier picture this is a year badly behind in maturity.

Mike

sibeer wrote:

Reply to
Mike Tommasi
Reply to
Michael Pronay

I think that in northern France (I include the Loire) there wasn't much rain, but no sun either. It was reported that following the hottest average June and July on record August was the coldest since before WWII. Not exactly propitious conditions.

-E

Reply to
Emery Davis

Really? Both hotter than 2003? Can't believe that

Also over here.

Well, over here the most perfect Indian summer I remember not only saved the crop, but did some kind of magic.

M.

Reply to
Michael Pronay

It truly was. But not quite as long lasting...

Reply to
Mike Tommasi

The heat wave lasted almost 7 weeks, much longer than in 2003. So the average is higher if not the peak. Even still, it was over 40C in early June here in Normandy!

I certainly don't have that impression here. We did get some warmer weather in September, but too little too late.

Maybe I should become a mad visionary and plant Chenin in one of our fields. After all, if they can make wine in England... ;)

-E

Reply to
Emery Davis

That's Normandy for you.

2003 was hot throughout the summer in Provence. Last summer we had super-03 temperatures in july, but then the weather got cool in august.
Reply to
Mike Tommasi

And in the rest of Europe.

M.

Reply to
Michael Pronay

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