Vintage Report 2002 ...

A vintage that did not get the credit it deserves due to the high media attention that the 2001 vintage received. While the 2001 was great in the middle Mosel and the Saar, the 2002 was actually the better vintage overall, but not recognized in the press for it.

At von Schleinitz we had a good warm summer and nice fall leading up to the harvest. We started mid October and continued through beginning of November. The grapes were mostly healthy with just small amounts of noble rott affected grapes from the best vineyards.

While the acidity was more pronounced than in 2001, the 2002 needs more time to mature and develop. (In the meantime the 2003 stole the show.)

We produced a good quantity overall. With ripeness levels starting at low Spätlese we had to declassify grapes for the estate Riesling and Kabinett levels.

This vintage is definietly an overlooked treasure with the wines showing great balance and mature fruit with rich minerality.

When last tasted in the spring of 2006 we see the wines at their first stage of maturity and can reommend to continue drinking these wines over the next years.