Technical presentation
| Bottling : | Septembre 2004 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 15.5° |
| Residual sugar : | 3.0 g/l |
| Yield : | 25 hl/ha |
| Average age of vines : | 22 years |
| Terroir : | Rotenberg |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Soil : | Red limestone Oligociene period, Steep slope, West North West facing |
Description of the wine Pinot Gris Rotenberg 2003
The Rotenberg northwest facing was actually very beneficial in 2003. The climate was cooler and the vines suffered much less. The grapes ripened quicker, even if the calcareous soil of the Rotenberg should slow down the ripeness process. The grapes were harvested very healthy, almost black and certainly packed with active yeasts, because this wine fermented like I never saw a Rotenberg ferment. This is the only wine of 2003 that I had to rack a the end of the fermentation, such were the lees important.
Tasting notes
06/2004 : The nose still shows strong lees character with important nutty, smoky toasted aromas. The palate is powerful, very dry, totally influenced by the calcareous soil. There is no botrytis to soften the palate and bring exotic flavours here, only terroir !
10/2004 : The contact with oxygen during the bottling really opened up this wine. Still very mineral, it now shows more almonds/hazelnuts flavours. The palate is powerful, dry, long and quite strict with good tannins.
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.