Riesling Sommerberg Grand Cru 2022

The very steep hills of the Sommerberg Grand Cru vineyard are shaped like a succession of crescents, facing the south on a biotite granite. The small parcel the domaine owns is on the sub section called Dudenstein within the Grand Cru. Sommerberg, or hills of summer/sun, enjoys a solar exposition. However, the village of Niedermorschwihr is under the shadow of the Vosges mountains earlier than Turckheim, so Sommerberg is slightly less precocious than Brand. It is only a few days difference, but consistent every vintage. Sadly, this vineyard got hit by a severe hailstorm mid-August 2022 affecting mostly the clusters exposed to the west. Eventually, after severe selections, as the hail provoked early rot on the damaged berries, we were able to harvest a small but nice crop. Long fermentation and ageing on full lees ended up with a very dry Riesling wine.