Alsace grand cru Zinnkoepfle

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyard benefits from the protection of the Vosges massif against damp, cool north-westerly winds, with plantings on the well-exposed slopes, from east to south-west, of the sub-Vosges hills.
• This terroir is one of the highest sites in the Alsace vineyard, with very steep slopes.
• The site is ventilated in the late season by cool currents descending from the Petit Ballon.
• The mesoclimate, of a Mediterranean or even Caspian type, is heightened by the amphitheatre-like layout of the Vallée Noble, which favours strong ripening and regularly overripening of the grapes while preserving their aromatic finesse.
• The Zinnkoepflé hillside is cut by a series of six faults along parallel south-west/north-east axes, forming a kind of geological puzzle on varied soil dating from the Triassic. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The controlled designation of origin "Alsace grand cru Zinnkoepflé" was recognized in 1992, this recognition having been built around the white grape varieties.
• The only grape varieties selected as a base are Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, Muscat à petits grains blancs, Muscat à petits grains roses and Muscat ottonel.
• The vineyard is trained with high trellising to benefit from an optimal leaf surface, with a minimum planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare and hand-harvesting of the grapes.
• Wines bearing the terms "vendanges tardives" and "sélection de grains nobles" are made from overripe, fragile grapes harvested by hand, and must undergo a minimum ageing period of 18 months.

• The white wines are age-worthy and are characterized by a pronounced freshness resting on dominant tartaric acidity linked to good ripeness of the grapes.
• Four types of wine can be distinguished, including dry, mineral wines and aromatic, fruity, rich and full-bodied wines, these two types showing a sustained colour intensity reaching golden yellow.
• Vendanges tardives wines often display very exotic aromas and candied fruit notes with a fresh finish, while sélection de grains nobles wines are more concentrated and powerful with fruit-paste aromas, both types reaching a colour intensity extending to amber yellow.
• Wines bearing the terms vendanges tardives or sélection de grains nobles are sweet wines of very long ageing potential, with remarkable concentration and great aromatic persistence.

• The shelly limestone subsoil, the steep slopes and the low rainfall give rise to wines that are spicy, lightly smoky, saline and mouth-watering.
• The excellent late-season climatic conditions, favourable to concentration on the vine and to noble rot, allow for the production of wines made 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