Technical presentation
| Bottling : | February 2013 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 15.5° |
| Residual sugar : | 4.0 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 3.2 g/l H2SO4 (4.9 g/l Acide Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.4 |
| Yield : | 25 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2015-2031 |
| Average age of vines : | 30 years |
| Terroir : | Rotenberg |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Soil : | Calcaire Oligocène, Steep slope, West North West facing |
Description of the wine Pinot Gris Rotenberg 2011
The Rotenberg hill is located on top of the Hengst and eventually goes west to north. On the smaller west, north-west side, the soil is dark red (rich in iron) and enjoys a cool climate due to the facing, altitude (300m) and proximity of the forest. The Pinot family is the best choice possible in this vineyard, and that is why we chose to plant Auxerrois and Pinot-Gris in this poor limestone soil. Less precocity doesn’t mean less richness. The Rotenberg produces small yields of concentrated grapes which can also develop noble rot. In 2011 we didn’t allow for any rot development, so the grapes were harvested healthy. The fermentation was one of the slowest of the cellar, but, to my great surprise, when to the end leaving no sugars.
Tasting notes
02/2013 : The nose shows intense sharp citrus and white fruits aromas (pears, peach). Strong lees influence with nutty roasted character. It will probably need some time to open up. The palate is tightly packed and powerful. The limestone brings a nice form of austerity, enhanced by the very dry character of this wine. Despite the power, the finish is a harmonious and fresh with nice saline texture.
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.