Alsace grand cru Kastelberg

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The grand cru rests on metamorphic schists, unique in the Alsatian vineyard, yielding very stony, well-drained soils.
• The underlying rock is composed of quartz, mica, and chlorite. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The platy schistose rock allows deep root penetration, conducive to normal vine vigour even in drought years.
• The Vosges massif shields the vineyard from cool, humid north-westerly winds; the westerly winds lose their moisture on the western slopes before reaching Alsace in the form of foehn, drier and warmer.

• Harvest is carried out by hand for all wines, including Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles, the latter requiring a minimum élevage of 18 months.
• In practice, Riesling is the only grape variety cultivated on Kastelberg, although the specifications also authorise Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, and the Muscats.

• The dry, aromatic wines display a colour intensity ranging up to golden yellow, while the Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles reach an amber yellow.
• Vendanges Tardives often show highly exotic and candied-fruit aromas, while Sélection de Grains Nobles, being more concentrated, often present aromas of fruit paste.

• The schists impart a marked minerality to the wines, which are structured, distinguished, and clean.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

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