Technical presentation
| Bottling : | February 2021 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 13.1° |
| Residual sugar : | 11 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 5.2 g/l H2SO4 / (8 g/l Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.2 |
| Yield : | 23 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2025-2040+ |
| Average age of vines : | 38 years |
| Terroir : | Rotenberg |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Soil : | Red limestone Oligociene period |
Description of the wine Pinot Gris Rotenberg 2019
The Rotenberg vineyard is located on the west to north-west side of the Grand Cru Hengst in Wintzenheim, on a red coloured limestone (siliceous marl calcareous from the Oligocene period). The top soil is very thin, partly due to the steep slope but also the limestone is relatively poor. The Rotenberg is a relatively late ripening vineyard considering the precocity of the village. Definitely, both the altitude and north-west facing help greatly to slow down the sugar increase on this fast ripening grape variety. In the past, it was a favoured place for producing late harvest style wines. Today, earlier harvests and a much drier weather pushes for producing much drier wines, and the Rotenberg vineyard adapted to this change of style brilliantly. Production is very low. The vines show nice vigour but carry a very small number of clusters, which in turn are very small. The consequence, especially in 2019, is that the wines from Rotenberg show a firm structure. Slow to ferment, the wild yeasts eventually managed to ferment this wine absolutely bone dry, to our great satisfaction !
Tasting notes
02/2021: Bright clear yellow colour. The nose exhibits delicate ripe white fruits aromas (peach, nectarines….). The limestone influence influences strongly the wine in giving a sharp citrus aromatic profile. The first impression on the palate is of a very strict, racy, super dry, vertical mouthfeel. I am sure some people will look at the label to check if they didn’t take a Riesling Clos Häuserer by mistake! This is a very concentrated wine with a vigorous acidity that makes the finish taste almost light. Bright and luminous finish, it should age for ever !
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.