Alsace grand cru Zotzenberg

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The Vosges massif shields the vineyard from cool, moisture-laden north-westerly winds, allowing ideal establishment on the well-exposed slopes of the sub-Vosges foothills.
• The grand cru occupies the south/south-east-facing slope of a sub-Vosges foothill, with soils belonging to a single geo-pedological unit and a favourable mesoclimate.
• The geology of Zotzenberg consists of very dense marls over a limestone bedrock, forming a well-drained soil that ensures a balanced water supply.
• On the lower part of the slope, in the named sites Unterer Zotzenberg and Efterbrunner, the soil is composed of Jurassic marls, while the upper slope presents Oligocene calcareous and marly conglomerates with Dogger limestone pebbles. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The eastern end of the site is separated from the rest of Zotzenberg by a fault, with grey marls interbedded with limestone or sandstone of Bajocian age on the upper part and an oolitic Bajocian limestone on the lower part. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The appellation Alsace grand cru Zotzenberg was recognised in 1992, on the basis of the grape varieties Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, and Sylvaner alone, which may be vinified and marketed under their respective variety names.
• Sylvaner remains authorised on this named site even though it has been almost entirely absent from planting elsewhere in the Alsace vineyard since the 1970s, replaced by varieties considered nobler, such as Riesling.

• These are age-worthy white wines characterised by a pronounced freshness resting on a predominantly tartaric acidity linked to good ripeness of the grapes.
• The mineral dry wines and the aromatic, fruity, full-bodied, and rich wines display a sustained depth of colour ranging through to golden yellow.
• 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, both categories displaying a depth of colour ranging through to amber yellow.
• The designations Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles are systematically followed by the variety names Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, and Riesling, and indication of the vintage is compulsory.

• The dense marls allow the production of full-bodied, rich wines with an elegant salinity and great aromatic finesse.
• The excellent late-season climatic conditions, which favour concentration on the vine and noble rot, allow 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