Pinot Gris Vendanges Tardives 2005 - Grand Cru Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé

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Complex and expressive. An exuberant wine with the structure of the Grand Cru Kirchberg.

17/20 - Bettane et Desseauve 2009 Guide

Appellation:

Alsace Grand Cru Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé with the mention « Vendanges Tardives » (late harvest)

Locality:

This wine comes from the Kirchberg hill in Ribeauvillé. Classified as Grand Cru by a ruling of 1975, the wines of this single vineyard have been recognised as exceptional for very many years. According to Médard Barth, the famous historian of the Alsace vineyards, the Kirchberg was first mentioned in 1328.

Type of soil:

This hill benefits from a South and South East facing positioning which, in conjunction with a very steep slope, confers it an excellent level of sunlight during the fruit's maturing period. The substratum of the hill is composed of dolomitic marl from the triassic period and dolomite from the lower Muschelkalk. Higher up it is composed of brightly coloured sandstone and gypsum marl from the middle Muschelkalk. At an altitude of 270 to 350 metres, the vineyard's soil is rich in clay and often very stony. Our PINOT GRIS are situated on the upper part of the hill.

Wine character:

A fine golden yellow colour with glints of amber. Delicate and elegant flavours of honey and ripe fruit (pineapple). Supple wine, wide and long in mouth thanks to a fine acidity typical from these Grand Cru soils and from the 2005 vintage.

Tips for consuming:

An ideal wine to set with foie gras, spicy food, Asiatic cooking and deserts. Can also be enjoyed as itself with some cookies, friends or in family…
It is to be consumed immediately, but does benefit from ageing in the bottle to develop its bouquet. Its structure will allow it to wait for some years.

The 2005 vintage:

This vintage started with a normal winter, dry with strong freezing days in December 2004 and January 2005. April was mild and rainy, which was favourable for the beginning of the vegetative cycle of the vines. The flowering period took place under high temperatures which lasted from mid of June to end of July and eased the growth of the vines. August was more contrasty, pleasant at the beginning and then cooler in the second half. With these low temperatures, the acidity of the grapes was maintained. The good weather of September allowed the grapes to mature perfectly with no development of diseases. The dry winter, the low precipitations in spring and summer, the very nice September month and our choices of vineyard management yielded to a very small harvest : 55 hl/ha for the Alsace appellation and a very low 30 hl/ha for the Grands Crus. On this point, this vintage can be compared with 2003. Three points can summarise this vintage: very low yields – perfectly sound grapes – nice and ripe acidities. With no doubt, the key factors for a great vintage!

Press:

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Vinification:

Manual harvest. Smooth and log pressing of the grapes. Traditional vinification process with temperature control.

Special note:

In order to be awarded the label "Vendanges Tardives", which was defined by the ministerial ruling of 01.03.1984, an Alsace wine must fulfil the following conditions:
- it must be the product of a single vine species, and must be sold with mention of the species on the label
- it must be sold with a mention of the vintage
- it must originate in a plot of growing land which has already been declared to the INAO
- it must be made from harvested grapes of one of the authorised species which are recognised to produce at least the minimum level of natural richness, as defined by the ruling (these species are the Gewurztraminer, Tokay Pinot Gris, Riesling and Muscat)
- it must not have undergone chaptalization
- it must have been accepted for the "appellation" of Alsace in the sector of bottled wines, after chemical and organoleptic analysis.