In anticipation of 2012
Given the healthy vineyards, the growers’ expectations for the 2012 vintage are high. In 2012, the flowering of Riesling was between early and mid-June. Due to the less than optimal conditions – June was wet, cool, and windy – the harvest yield was slightly below average, but the quality was good and impressed us at the first tasting of the fermenting musts.
What was less ideal for us was very good for Riesling, namely the constant water supply for the vines throughout the summer months. In August, the green hillside vineyards were a joy to growers, with an almost normal grip, a healthy harvest and a level of development that corresponded to a long term average. The weather was especially good for white wines with a good balance between sugar and acidity. The ripeness was above the long-term medium with an invigorating acidity.
In 2012, the main harvest of Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier did not start as early as in previous years. The favorable weather allowed the Pinot grapes to fully ripen during the first week of October. At the beginning of October, we were able to start harvesting the Pinot varieties. From mid-October to November, we then picked the Riesling, which is one of the late-ripening varieties.