Rheinland-Pfalz allows acid additions for 2011

So yesterday Bundesland Rheinland-Pfalz announced that acid additions will be allowed for vintage 2011.
1.5 g/l tartaric acid added to the grapes or must, or 2.5 g/l added to the post-fermented wine.

The Weinbaugebiete included in Rheinland-Pfalz are:
Mosel
Nahe
Rheinhessen
Pfalz
Ahr
Mittelrhein

Baden and Württemberg have already anounced the allowance so that leaves Hessen (Rheingau and Hessische-Bergstraße) and the two Eastern weinbaugebiete undeclared as far as I know. I only bring it up because this is only the 3rd time in the last decade that this has been allowed (2003, 2009, 2011.) You don't have to add anything, but with the early season, already high must weights, and above average rainfall in August (though not at all like last year) some grapes, especially from those earlier ripening varieties which are due to be picked this week are low in acidity.

I was out tasting and measuring Oechsle today. It looks to be a very strong Spätlese and Auslese vintage in the Pfalz (Absolutely nothing is under Kabinett ripeness -even Müller-Thurgau). Pinot Noir and Riesling are still a couple of weeks out. Hopefully we can draw it out and get high Spätlese or low Auslese for the best Riesling and good, solid Auslese for Pinot Noir. Riesling and Silvaner still has very good acidity and Gewürztraminer is nowhere near ready. Pinot Gris is nearing 95 grad Oechsle in the best parcels and Pinot Blanc is between 85-92. We're starting on Friday and the next two weeks will likely see everything picked in all 33 hectares.

Cheers,
Bill

[David M. Bueker]

Is this turning into another 2003? I ask only because I do not like 2003 - not one bit.

David,

I think that the weird circumstances preceding this vintage may have saved it from becoming a 2003 (that and there was plenty of rain in July and August, where in 2003 there was almost none.)

2010 was such a miniscule, cellar-clearing vintage that many producers went for a little more yield in 2011 to get a little back. The May frost further strengthened this position in that if they didn’t see damage, they were three weeks ahead of schedule and not about to thin yields both to counter the effects of an early vintage (as much was learned in 2003), but also to have more wine to feed the demand caused by the shortage brought on by frost (there was, by some estimates 15-20% frost damage to the whole of German vineyards earlier this year. I think that number has now been reduced a little, but it was a catastrophe.)

There was excellent fruit-set. Really too perfect and that can be problematic.
All of the rain in July and August had the berries close to bursting and caused some (or helped to cause some) botrytis problems here and there for some varieties on some soils.

And then, of course the hail damage. Hail like that, this late, is bound to stop the assimilation in its tracks in affected vineyards. No one knows how much wine will even be available in the Mosel and in what condition it will be.

And now the temperatures are starting to drop. It’s been cold during the night, which is really good for building and retaining acidity. We’ll have to see what the next few weeks bring. No idea how it will end!

But, I hope that you like Spätlese.

Cheers,
Bill