Alsace grand cru Goldert

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The geological substrate of the appellation consists of oolitic limestone in the upper part of the slope, representing the only terroir in Alsace on this type of marine rock.
• In the lower part of the slope, the conglomerate bedrock is covered by soliflucted Quaternary deposits in which limestone and sandstone fragments are embedded within a clay matrix.
• The Vosges massif provides protection against the cool, moist north-westerly winds, allowing the vineyard to find its ideal conditions on well-exposed, steeply sloping hillsides.
• The slope of the hillside is steep, reaching up to 60%, as described in the topographic profile of the appellation. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The nature of the soil ensures good drainage which, combined with the mesoclimate, preserves the health of the grapes well into the late season.

• The appellation d'origine contrôlée Alsace grand cru Goldert was recognised in 1983, giving regulatory expression to a centuries-old practice of communicating the origin of Alsatian named vineyard sites.
• The vineyard is trained on a tall trellis system to achieve an optimal leaf canopy, with a minimum planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare and hand-harvesting of the grapes.
• Wines bearing the Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles designations, produced from over-ripe and fragile grapes harvested by hand, must undergo a minimum ageing period of 18 months.

• These are white wines with ageing potential, characterised by a pronounced freshness based on a dominant tartaric acidity linked to good grape maturity.
• The wines are aromatic, fruity, full-bodied, and rich, displaying a sustained depth of colour ranging up to golden yellow.
• Vendanges Tardives wines often display highly exotic aromas and candied fruit with a fresh finish, while Sélection de Grains Nobles wines are more concentrated and powerful, often showing fruit-paste aromas.
• Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles wines display a sustained depth of colour ranging up to amber yellow and are sweet wines with very long ageing potential.
• The Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles designations are invariably followed by the variety names Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot gris, and Riesling, with mandatory indication of the vintage.

• The mesoclimate allows the production of wines built on a structural acidity, which are fruity, rich, full-bodied, and complex.
• Late-season climatic conditions favour concentration on the vine and noble rot, enabling the production of wines from over-ripe harvests.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 29 juin 2016,
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVA