Technical presentation
| Bottling : | February 2019 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 13.5° |
| Residual sugar : | 2.6 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 3.5 g/l H2SO4 / (5.4g/l Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.3 |
| Yield : | 20 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2022-2037 |
| Average age of vines : | 36 years |
| Terroir : | Rotenberg |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Soil : | Red limestone Oligociene period, Steep slope, West North West facing |
Description of the wine Pinot Gris Rotenberg 2017
On the same point of view that allows to overlook the Heimbourg hill from the Grand Cru Brand, looking directly south, across the valley and the winery, one can see part of the Rotenberg vineyard. This vineyard is facing the Vosges mountains and is easily recognisable with its iron rich soil giving that intense red brick colour to the earth. It is one of the reason that explain the affinity of this lieu-dit to the pinot grape family, especially Pinot-gris and Auxerrois. The slope shows some steepness (30 to 40%). The soil is thin because it was eroded during the glacier period and is mixed with lots of rocks. The mother oligocen marl-limestone is very close to the surface. Yields are naturally very low and the grapes grow in a relatively late ripening situation. This vineyard has shown its capacity to produce anything from very dry to very rich and sweet wines, depending on the harvest date and presence of noble rot. However, as the ripening process is slower, it makes it slightly easier to choose the correct date of harvest. The 2017, despite a certain concentration, fermented very dry after a whole year of fermentation.
Tasting notes
03/2019 : Yellow gold colour. The nose is smoky and shows the rocky origin with a certain tightness and lean early aspect. Aeration will reveal complex aromatics (aromatic herbs, oregano…). The mouth is tight and may express a certain severity in the early days, but again, time will reveal a beautiful fumet, grilled almonds, nutty character. Tannins are well present adding a finesse and a silky touch on the palate. It is a dry and precise wine, very close to a red wine structure with a nice salivating acidity on the finish. Serious wine ! Please give it some time…
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.