Alsace & Lorraine Flashcards
Name some moderating weather factors in Alsace?
Rain Shadow effect from Vosges Mountains - Alsace is one of the driest and sunniest climates.
Rhein River
Describe the climate of Alsace? Preferred vineyard sites?
Semi-continental climate. Best vineyards enjoy S, SE, or E exposures for max sunlight. Most vineyards are along the lower slopes and foothills of Vosges Mountains. High # of sunlight hours
Soil types for Alsace?
Granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, Gres de Vosges a local pink sandstone called.
Difference between higher slopes vs lower slopes soil types?
Higher - generally more schist, granite and volcanic sediment.
Lower - limestone base, richer alluvial clay and granite soils.
Soil is critical in determining which grape variety for a given site.
What other grapes may be bottled varietally in Alsace?
Pinot Blanc (Klevner), Pinot Noir, Chasselas (Gutedel), Slyvaner.
All must be bottled at 100%
Alsace Riesling characteristics?
Last to ripen, most widely planted grape in Alsace. More dry, powerful and higher in alcohol than German producers. Among longest lived dry white wines in the world.
Alsace Pinot Gris characteristics?
Quintessential grape for Alsace, formerly known as Tokay Pinot Gris. Reaches full & rich expression, with spicy-smoky qualities, well balanced high acidity,
Alsace Gewurtztraminer characteristics?
Perfumed, sweet spices, tropical fruits. Lower acidity, usually off-dry and higher alcohol than Muscat. Large neutral casks for fermentation & aging. Pink berry clone of parent grape Traminer.
Alsace Klevener characteristics?
Related to Traminer and Gewurtztraminer. Known as Savagnin in Jura. Less intensely aromatic than Gewuzt, but higher in acidity. Five communes bottle under Alsace AOP
Heiligenstein, Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller, and Obernai.
What does ‘gentil’ refer to on Alsace bottling?
a superior designation for blends that contain a minimum of 50% noble grapes. Any other Alsace AOP grape may compose the remainder, and the base wines must be vinified separately.
Timeline for Alsace Grand Crus history?
1962 - gained AOP status
1975 - Schlossberg.
1983 - 24 more added
1992 - 25 more added
2007 Kaefferkopf last added
for Total 51
Name 3 Grand Crus of Alsace that allow blending
- Altenberg de Bergheim 50-70% Riesling & 10-25% Gewurtz (Marcel Deiss)
- Kaefferkopf 60-80% Gewurzt & 30% max Pinot Gris (Dom. Audrey et Christian Binner L’Originel)
- Zotzenberg with Sylvaner (Boeckel)
Yield limits for Grand Cru in Alsace
55 hl/ha for any grape variety from a grand cru
What percentage of wine production in Alsace is from Grand Crus vineyard sites?
4% total wine production contributions
8% regions vineyard surfaces
90% of Alsace production is white
Name 3 Grand Crus
- Rangen - high elevation, 1400ft, all volcanic soil, most southern Dom. Zind-Humbrecht.
- Geisberg - high elevation 1100ft, south facing. Really windy, Limestone, sandstone, marl. Dom. Trimbach.
- Schlossberg - higher up to 1150, south facing with granite soils, also largest 80.3 ha Dom. Weinbach
Name a bottle for Domaine Weinbach
Clos des Capucins Cuvée Ste Catherine Schlossberg Grand Cru Riesling
Fragrant, floral tangerine peel. Ripe fruit driven with tangerine, ripe lemon and crisp apple.
What are 3 Grand Crus which allow Pinot Noir? Name a producer in each
- Hengst (Domaine Barmes Buecher)
- Kirchberg de Barr (Dom Hering)
- Vorbourg (Mure Clos St Landelin)
Minimum must weight for VT?
Riesling 244 g/l
Pinot Gris/Gerwuzt 270 g/l
Minimum must weight for SGN?
Riesling or Muscat 276 g/l
Pinot Gris/Gewurtz 306 g/l
Other rules for Grand Cru production?
Intent to produce Grand Cru wines must be declared before March 1 of harvest year. Must be vintage dated. Must be hand harvested. Bottled in a Vin du Rhin/Flute d’Alsace bottle
Name major cities in order North to South
Strasbourg
Ribeauville
Colmar
Mulhouse
Altkirch
Cremant d’Alsace allowed grapes for Mousseux Blanc?
Riesling, Pinot Blanc (most widely use base), Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, and/or Chardonnay (only allowed for Cremant)
Cremant d’Alsace allowed grapes for Moussex Rose?
100% Pinot Noir
Made by either maceration or Saignee method
Blanc de Noirs
Regulations for Cremant production in Alsace?
Traditional Method with Secondary Fermentation. Min 9% alcohol. Min 9 months lees aging prior to degorgement at 12 months.
Rank the must weights for the noble grapes of Alsace Grand Cru’s highest to lowest
Pinot Gris, Gewurtz 193 g/l
Riesling, Muscat, Slyvaner 168 g/l
Smallest Grand Cru in Alsace? Producer?
Kanzlerberg at 3.2ha
Gustave Lorentz - Riesling
Most Northern Grand Cru in Alsace? Producer?
Muenchberg
Red sandstone, volcanic
Dom. Ostertag
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Slyvaner,
Wine producer in Rangen to recommend
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht 2014 Clos Saint Urbain Rangen de Thann Grand Cru Riesling; $120, 96 points. A hint of mossy earth, chamomile tisane, Cox Orange Pippin apples or lemon zest. Shy on the taut, dry and concentrated palate. For now, it is mossy citrus that is most aromatic with rich fruit. This strikes a note of utter purity, invigorating and refreshing
Wine producer in Geisberg to recommend
Trimbach 2008 Cuvée Frédéric Emile Riesling; $60, 95 points. A perfumed note of citrus peel and soft pine create a bracing nose that nonetheless suggests ripeness. The body is lithe and light, with a backdrop of stone and subtle nuttiness. With a little more air, the characteristic notes of mature Riesling appear: some lifted chamomile and candied orange peel, but only in their early stages. This is a wine of immense depth and deceptive lightness.
Which appellation is allowed in Lorraine?
Cotes de Toul AOP 57 ha
Moselle AOP 42 ha
Which grapes are allowed to be bottled varietally in the Moselle AOP?
Pinot Gris & Muller-Thurgau
Name a notable producer in Hengst?
Josmeyer - Riesling
Albert Mann - Pinot Gris
Which producer has the most planted Grand Cru hectares?
Domaine Schlumberger
What percentage of Gamay is allowed in the vin gris wines of Cotes de Toul AOP?
85% Gamay, 10% Pinot Noir
Dom. Migot - Vin Gris
What soil is in Rosacker?
Dolomite Limestone
What soil is in Brand?
Granite
What is the only permitted grape in Marc d’Alsace?
Gewurztraminer
Eaux-di-Vie style made with ‘marc’ pomace, into a clear aromatic distilled spirit.
Dom. Zind-Humbrecht
What are the AOPs of Lorraine?
Cotes de Toul AOP
Moselle AOP
What wines are in the Cotes de Toul AOP?
Red - Pinot Noir (light)
White - Auxerrois & Aubin
Rosé - pale vin gris style from a high proportion of Gamay & Pinot Noir (PM, Aubin, Auxerrois)
What wines are in the Moselle AOP?
Red, white, rosé
Principally from Auxerrois and Pinot Noir
Klevner vs Klevener
Klevner - Pinot Blanc
Klevener - Savagnin
Where are there still a few plantings of Klevener?
Heiligenstein in the Bas Rhin
