Harvest 2003

After an extremely dry and cold winter (up to –18°C), which also caused minor frost damage in some vineyards, the change in temperature on the 7th of April led to a late shoot in mid-April. The subsequent warm weather, coupled with some rainfalls in May, resulted in a quick growth and a blossom at the end of May till the beginning of June, extremely early for the late shoot. The mercilessly hot and dry summer could only be overcome well due to the moisture reserves in the soil still remaining from the year before and, in extreme vineyard sites, by means of drop irrigation.

Yet it was important to adapt the work in the vineyards to the particular demands this vintage required. The grapes had to be hidden behind the foliage rather than exposed to the sun as in “normal” years. All measures had to be brought in line with the aim to preserve fruit and elegance of the 2003 wines.

Rarely ever before within living memory was the harvest started so early in Lower Austria. In some wineries early varieties were brought in already at the end of August. Luckily, September proved itself merciful with its cool nights what benefited the preservation of the varietal character and the fruit in the grapes. And at last, the harvest went on for some wineries longer than they had originally thought: individual top growths were harvested in late October or even at the beginning of November.

In the cellars of the Traditionsweingüter, wines are maturing which offer to prove that complexity and character go short in the years of extremes. It was essential to take advantage of the great ripeness with the right feel, and yet not throw the balance of the wines overboard.
In the usual way, we look forward once again to wines giving us great drinking pleasure, and yet, many a powerful “Hercules” stirring sensation will be discovered among the Traditionsweingüter wines.

Willi Bründlmayer
" A vintage marked by superlatives - the summer with the hottest temperatures ever and an October with the coldest ones and heavy snowfalls -, it is powerful, firmly structured and lasting, comparable to the great 1947. More in our harvest diary: at www.bruendlmayer.com

Edwin Jurtschitsch
The wines are basically more corpulent and tighter, very harmonious in their acidity and they already appear very mature in the tanks and casks. The challenge in 2003 lay in the pressing of fresh, fruity and lively wines.

Sepp Mantler
The energy of last summer’s many sun hours is stored in the wine. This vintage will remind us for a long time of a legendary summer.

Petra Unger, Weingut Dr. Unger
Thanks to an outstandingly sunny and warm summer we were provided with healthy, fully ripened grape material. Accordingly, we were able to start harvesting two weeks earlier than usually. This year the wines show a wonderfully mature fruit, supported by a strong body.

Fritz Miesbauer, Weingut Stadt Krems:
Due to the great course of weather, we are extremely content with the results. Perfect grape selection and a long harvesting period till the 17th of November earned us delicate wines, emphasizing their character of origin, in all disciplines (ranging from light to strong).

Niki Moser, Weingut Sepp Moser:
The quick ripening process caused us to sweat quite a bit in September. The challenge was to find the right harvesting time to preserve harmony, fruit and elegance of the wines. The results in the cellar are quite respectable and attractive.

Fred Loimer
Early harvested vintages have always borne good quality like the 47 and the 49 or, more recently, the 83 and the 92. However, the 2003 will probably be superior in its quality to the last vintages. Fully ripened grapes, marvellously juicy fruit, good concentration without being alcoholic; due to the enormous density, certainly also a vintage with maturing potential.
If it will later line up to a vintage like the 1947, we’ll hopefully live to see ....