Alsace grand cru Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Downstream, the substratum consists of Triassic dolomitic marls and dolomites from the lower Muschelkalk, while upstream one finds variegated sandy and gypsiferous marls from the middle Muschelkalk.
• The soils resting on this compact calcareous marl, with a depth ranging from 60 to 100 cm, are clayey and generally very stony, of a clay-silt-sand to clay-sand texture with a dolomitic component.
• Cool nocturnal valley winds, known as Tahlwendala, descend from the Vosges through the valley behind Ribeauvillé and delay grape ripening despite good sunshine levels and steep slope exposure.
• This relatively long ripening period of the grapes occasionally allows the development of noble rot and promotes aromatic complexity in the wines.
• The Vosges massif protects the vineyard from cool, moist north-westerly winds, enabling viticulture on the well-exposed, east- to south-west-facing, steeply sloping hillsides of the Vosges foothills.

• The appellation d'origine contrôlée Alsace grand cru Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé was recognised in 1983, following a long-standing tradition among Alsatian winegrowers of prizing these named sites.
• The vineyard is trained on a tall trellis system in order to benefit from an optimal leaf surface area, with a minimum planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare and hand-harvesting of the grapes.
• Wines bearing the Vendanges Tardives or Sélection de Grains Nobles designations are made from over-ripe grapes harvested by hand and must undergo a minimum of 18 months' ageing.
• Since the law of 5 July 1972, wines must be bottled exclusively in the Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin departments, traditionally in the flute-shaped bottle of the Vin du Rhin type described in the 1955 decree.

• These are age-worthy white wines characterised by a pronounced freshness resting on a dominant tartaric acidity linked to good grape ripeness.
• Both the mineral dry wines and the aromatic, fruity, rich, and full-bodied wines display a sustained depth of colour extending to deep golden yellow.
• Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles wines display a sustained depth of colour extending to amber yellow and are sweet wines with very long ageing potential.
• Vendanges Tardives wines often show highly exotic aromas and candied fruit with a fresh finish, while Sélection de Grains Nobles wines are more concentrated and powerful, frequently showing fruit-paste aromas.

• Marked by strong sunshine and the slow, extended ripening brought about by the Tahlwendala, the wines are mainly aromatic, balanced, full-bodied, and complex on the palate, with a pleasing salinity and a firm acid backbone.
• The excellent late-season climatic conditions favour concentration on the vine and the development of noble rot, allowing 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