October 18^th we began with the pre-selection of our grapes. It is quite a while since we started that late. The first 10 days were warm and dry with cool nights, the fruit was healthy and correspondingly the harvest was pretty relaxed. First we selected the grapes with botrytis and the very mature bunches. The remaining grapes took advantage from the longer hanging time. Due to the selective picking we were able to collect all grapes at their perfect ripening level. On October 28^th 2012 temperature was falling down to chilly -1°C, one day later we were also harvesting at -4.5°C.  What a change!  The vines lost all their leaves and it went much easier to find all this little bunches. Luckily more agreeable temperatures were following, though after All Saints´ Day we had rain again. Thanks to our faithful and flexible harvest-staff and additional helpers we were able to gather all of our grapes dry and healthy until 6^th of November.

The only disadvantage of vintage 2012 is the loss of 30% yield compared to the previous year. Beneath a lower setting the flowering was not perfect and not every flower became a berry. The berry clusters developed very loos and survived the next wet weeks healthy. Thus it was an enormous advantage concerning the quality.

The grapes were perfectly provided with nutrients and minerals. The must weights were high and the long vegetation period lead to a detailed character of the wines.

Already the grapes and the must tasted very promising. The young wines are showing outstanding minerality, mature but racy acidity and expressive flavours, remaining on citrus fruit, yellow peach, cassis, exotic fruit and herbs. A classic vintage as desired, with wonderful Kabinett-, Spät- and Auslese wines and an elegant Grosses Gewächs.

Weingut Willi Schaefer, Graach February 2013