Wine Diary
Late Autumn's Obstacles!
Now we begin to frown about the last few warm and humid days we have had in October. Botrytis is threatening to attack part of the remaining harvest.
Currently we are using every hour to bring in the still deliciously tasting grapes in the driest possible state. Vintage 2013 still proves to be capricious and difficult.
However, it is in these vintages, that great efforts are rewarded by individual wines of outstanding quality. If we had harvested earlier and faster, our cellar would be more full by now,
although with more uniform and rather mediocre wines. Moreover botrytis at this stage might once again open the possibility to bring in noble sweet wines (such as Beerenauslesen (BAs) or even Trockenbeerenauslesen (TBAs)) wherein luscious sweetness would be balanced by delicate acidity. But we are not that far yet: despite the unusually warm weather, most grapes on the higher altitude vineyards are still perfectly healthy. Now we hope for a cooler and drier weather and expect a thrilling end of harvest in November!
Willi Bründlmayer