2012 Alsace
Spring was particularly rainy in Alsace. As a result, the mildew pressure was high and the flowering conditions bad. The bunches are loose with a lot of small berries, expectation of low yields. Luckily, the weather turned much better in the beginning of August, the north wind dried the vegetation avoiding Botrytis development, and the vintage is looking more promising even though there’s little wine. Alcohol & acidity levels are excellent. The Rieslings look really great. Similar to 2010 if not as intense or structured.
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Laura Atkinson-Godwin, Private Account Manager
Writings and praise for the Windsbuhl vineyard are numerous and its history goes back to 1324 when the Domaine was known as Erlach. When the Count of Ferrette died in 1324, Erlach became the property of the House of Austria. In 1668 the hillside vineyard was renamed Windsbuhl. In 1760 the planting of vines in the plain was subject to a quota by royal decree. Many vines were pulled up and the Windsbuhl vineyard was planted with noble grape varieties. In those days, the wines commanded a high price in the old wine market, in fact the archives show this used to cost three times the price of wines from other communes.
Clos Windsbuhl faces south to south-east and its proximity to the Vosges Mountains protects the Windsbuhl from northern winds. Its situation and higher altitude makes for a late ripening terroir. With its average to steep slope (between 15 - 40%), the small Windsbuhl hill is at a high altitude for Alsace, around 350m above sea level. The vines grow in shelly limestone (muschelkalk) rich in clay and chalky rock. It is well worth noting that Windsbuhl lies on a soil structure quite different from the rest of the commune which contributes to what is one of the most interesting expressions of minerality in Alsace.