Alsace grand cru Steinklotz

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vines are planted on well-exposed slopes, facing east to south-west, on the steep hillsides of the sub-Vosges foothills.
• The Vosges massif shields the vineyard from cool, humid north-westerly winds, acting as a climatic shelter for the appellation zone.
• The bedrock consists of shell limestone known as Muschelkalk and dolomitic Keuper, resting on a stony subsoil.
• This bedrock over stony subsoil gives the soils good permeability, which is conducive to the thermal accumulation characteristic of the terroir.
• The prevailing westerly winds lose part of their moisture on the western slopes of the Vosges and arrive in Alsace as a foehn, drier and warmer. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The appellation d'origine contrôlée Alsace grand cru Steinklotz was recognised in 1992, while Marlenheim had already been renowned for its red wines as early as 1877, according to Charles Gérard.
• The only authorised grape varieties are Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, Muscat à petits grains blancs, Muscat à petits grains roses, and Muscat ottonel.
• The vineyard is trained on a tall trellis system in order to maximise leaf-surface area, with a minimum planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare and mandatory hand-harvesting.
• Wines bearing the Vendanges Tardives or Sélection de Grains Nobles designations are produced from overripe and fragile grapes harvested by hand, and must undergo a minimum of 18 months of ageing.

• These are age-worthy white wines characterised by a pronounced freshness underpinned by a dominant tartaric acidity associated with good grape ripeness.
• The mineral dry wines and the aromatic, fruity, full-bodied and rich wines display a sustained depth of colour ranging up to golden yellow.
• Late-harvest wines often show very exotic aromas and candied fruit with a fresh finish, while Sélection de Grains Nobles wines are more concentrated and powerful, with fruit-paste aromas, both ranging up to amber yellow.

• Late-season climatic conditions favour concentration on the vine and the development of noble rot, enabling the production of wines from overripe 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