4. Cremant d'Alsace Flashcards
Discuss the size and makeup of the Cremant market as it compares to still wines in the region
- 25% of total production of wine in region
- 500 producers
- Area under vineyard for Cremant has grown by 15% over last 10 years to 3,600 hectares
What is the most important varietal used for Cremant d’Alsace, and what are its characteristics? What style are most Cremant d’Alsace wines?
Pinot Blanc 1. Medium intensity apple and pear fruit with biscuit-like autolytic notes 2. Med+ to high acidity 3. Light-med body Brut style
Discuss the location and climatic influences of the vineyards for Cremant d’Alsace
- Vineyards on eastern flanks of Vosges foothills at 200-400m elevation
- Vosges protects vineyards from prevailing westerly winds
- Sunny and continental climate
- Dry and hot during growing season
- Rain at harvest can be a problem
- Water shortage can be a problem - irrigation not permitted
- Hot days/cool nights - flavor ripeness + high acidity = ideal for sparkling wines
- Spring frost can be a problem - worse in recent years with warmer/earlier spring resulting in early bud break - vines more vulnerable to frost.
What are consideration for site selection for Pinot Blanc?
Growers reserve best sites for Riesling.
Pinot Blanc grown on range of sites - usually lower level elevations - higher fertility not suited for top-quality still wines. Some cooler sites in higher valleys where grapes for still wine struggle to ripen
What are the 6 varietals used for Cremant d’Alsace
3 P’s + CAR
- Pinot Gris
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Noir
- Chardonnay
- Auxerrois
- Riesling
What are the characteristics of Pinot Blanc, and what does the variety contribute to the wine?
- Early budding - vulnerable to spring frosts
- Prone to fungal diseases
- Early ripening - harvest much earlier than other varieties
- Contributes pear/apple aromas and high acidity
What are considerations for the other common Alsatian varietals in the use of Cremant?
Other common aromatic varietals, such as Muscat and Gewurztraminer, are not permitted. Riesling permitted but little used - growers prefer to save for still wines. Pinot Blanc is inexpensive variety; some growers will put more expensive Pinot Gris in blends to raise quality.
What variety is the only one permitted to make Cremant d’Alsace rose?
Pinot Noir. Can be very good quality with medium to med+ flavor intensity and red berry fruit.
How do vineyard management techniques and harvest time compare for Cremant d’Alsace compared to still wines?
- Vines for Cremant pruned to greater crop load than for still wine. Base wines don’t need high flavor concentration.
- Max yield 80 hl/ha - similar to Champagne.
- Growers need to declare in July that they are going to make Cremant from particular vineyards.
- Early harvest - end of August/beginning of Sept - want just-ripe fruit with high acidity
Discuss winemaking techniques specific to Cremant d’Alsace
- Must often chaptalised because potential alcohol low.
- Wines typically made with grapes from single vintage (i.e. no reserve wines)
- 2nd fermentation time on lees short (e.g. 12 months) - wines show mainly primary fruit
- Better producers significantly more time on lees (+2 years) - biscuit autolytic notes/more complexity.
- Mostly Brut style
- Dosage typically 8-10g/l
- Rose’ made by skin maceration for 12-24 hours
What is the breakdown of producer types of Cremant d’Alsace? What company is the largest producer?
43% - cooperatives; 37% - merchant houses; 20% - independent
Maison Bestheim - largest
Is production of Cremant d’Alsace growing, in decline or stagnant? What is the domestic/export split?
Growth - more than doubled from 2000 to 2014.
80% sold in France
What is Cremant d’Alsace Emotion? What are the requirements and has it been received successfully by the market?
- Prestige category launched in 2012
- Min 75% Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
- Min 24 months on lees
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