Technical presentation
| Bottling : | September 2010 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 14° |
| Residual sugar : | 12.0 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 3.9 g/l H2S04 |
| pH : | 3.3 |
| Yield : | 39 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2013-2024+ |
| Average age of vines : | 28 years |
| Terroir : | Rotenberg |
| Sweetness index : | 2 |
| Soil : | Calcaire Oligocène, Steep slope, West North West facing |
Description of the wine Pinot Gris Rotenberg 2009
The Rotenberg is a small single vineyard located on the west side of the Grand Cru Hengst in Wintzenheim, on a steep marl calcareous vineyard, relatively thin and poor. The high iron content gives the soil a red brick colour, especially if the soil is regularly cultivated. The vines grow there very slowly in a late ripening climate, mostly due to the altitude (300m/350m) and west to north west exposure. The alternance of fog in the morning and evening sunshine often helps the development of noble rot. In 2009 we tried to avoid it in order to keep more freshness and elegance in the wine. It was easy as the grapes were physiologically ripe earlier. A classic long fermentation kept little sugars but allowed for an intense aromatic expression.
Tasting notes
2/2011: we can already find here all the classic aromas of the Rotenberg: quince, pears but also lots of nutty, toasty Pinot Gris character. The wine is already quite open, both nose and palate. There is a hint of roundness on the palate but the acidity kicks in very quickly and brings a very fresh structure. I expect this wine to become even drier with age. Overall it displays fantastic flavours and shows the open character of 2009.
The Rotenberg of Wintzenheim
The Rotenberg is the summit of the hill whose south facing slopes make up the Grand Cru Hengst. The steep slopes of Rotenberg are west facing and look onto the Haut Landsbourg Chateau. The point where the slope turns towards the north is the start of a small lieu-dit called Hinterberg, within the Rotenberg.