Harvest Outlook | New Release | Spider Web Diagrams | Company Gifts
It felt like we had no summer at all here in the Black Forest: temperatures down into the single digits, overcast skies, high winds and frequent rain. But just in time for the end of summer, we are now treated to a few warm, sunny days. Not that we're complaining ... the wet summer has been welcomed by our trees, which suffered from increasing drought conditions in previous years. And we are very grateful that we were spared any hail damage (so far). Some of our fellow orchardists and cidermakers were not as lucky. There are no hail protection nets in a meadow orchard.
We look ahead to the coming harvest season with cautious optimism. The fruit set is mostly good; and with a few sunny days in the fall, quality should be high. Cross your fingers and join us in anticipation of a promising 2023 vintage.
Just in time for the new harvest, the first bottles of the 2022 vintage are now ready. Did I mention that patience is one of the most important ingredients for a good cider? We are excited to present to you the first perry from the preceding year. It was a year with a lot of sun and little rain. As a result, fruit was a bit smaller, but had a lot of sugar and concentrated flavors. This is reflected in slightly higher alcohol content and more intense aromas of the liquid.
Cobalt Lake 2022
We were not able to produce this unique perry in 2021, because it is the bottling of two very specific trees on our meadow orchard in Öfingen, which had no yield that year.
Pastorenbirne (literally: deacon's pear) is quite rare in our region and is remarkable for its low levels of acid and tannin; the Luxembourgian Perry Pear, on the other hand, has a refreshing acidity and a fair amount of tannin. The two complement and balance each other quite beautifully.
Lime and pear, with a hint of nectarine; a backbone of citrusy acidity and subtle tannins. This is a delicate perry that is accessible and complex at the same time. Give it a moment to develop in the glass so you can experience the full range of flavors.
We now include a spiderweb diagram on the labels of our new bottles. It's a great way to visualize and compare the presence and intensity of different elements of a flavor profile. We hope you find it a useful addition, seeing how hard it is to describe a taste with words. Refer to it when you drink the next bottle and see if you agree with our assessment.
Finally, a short note on our new service for corporate customers: unusual gifts that convey sustainability, regional ties and good taste. Find all the details on our website.
Cheers!
Patrick and Wendy |