Technical presentation
| Bottling : | September 2005 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 13.7° |
| Residual sugar : | 25 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 5.2 g/l H2SO4 / (8 g/l Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.2 |
| Yield : | 36 hl/ha |
| Average age of vines : | 30 years |
| Terroir : | Clos Hauserer |
| Sweetness index : | 3 |
| Soil : | Calcareous Marl from the Oligocene period, East facing, Very gentle slope |
Description of the wine Riesling Clos Häuserer 2003
The Clos Häuserer is located at the bottom of the Grand Cru Hengst, on rich layers of limestones and marl. The grapes ripen very slowly and always keep one of the highest acidity of the cellar. There is no exception in 2003, but like the Brand and Gueberschwihr Riesling, we completely under-estimated the potential ripeness. Every day we did thorough analysis that would always show around 12.5% potential alc. After one week of harvest (sept 22nd) we decided that this is not possible and harvested this vineyard. The result was quite unbelievable, because without any trace of botrytis, the grapes achieved 15.5% potential. Where was the sugar hiding ? perhaps in the ultra thick skins…?
Tasting notes
06/2004 : Very slow fermentation due to the initial richness. I expect that this wine will transform more sugar into alcohol, but will eventually finish at an indice 2 or 3 by the end of the year. Even the feb 2005 bottling date isn’t sure yet. Very aromatic and intense, the Clos Hauserer will be a powerful Riesling.
10/2004 : Still fermenting today, very slowly. Great richness, but far from the end of the fermentation.
07/2005 : This wine only finished its fermentation in April 2005, so the bottling will done next September. Amazing acidity, so typical for this vineyard. The wine shows a strong minerality on the nose associated to intense exotic fruits and flowers, certainly the influence of the very long fermentation. The strong acidity (100% natural) makes it a light 3 indice !
The Clos Häuserer of Wintzenheim
This soil rich in clay and chalk gives an important structure to the Riesling grown in the Clos Haüserer. Although this vineyard benefits from a warm and precocious climate, ripeness is achieved much later than the surrounding terroirs.