Type: dry aromatic whiteGrapes: Riesling 12,5 % alc/volTemperature : 10°- 12° to keep: 15 years Gault Millau Vin 2007
Soil:
South- and south-east-facing slopes at Katzenthal, at 280-400m, which constitute a fine vineyard of 27.4 hectares.
They have double-mica Turckheim granite soils, very disaggregated.
The lie of this Grand Cru, which is sheltered from dominant winds, provides a particularly favourable microclimate which, combined with the soils' quality, gives ideal conditions for producing exceptional wines.
Vinification:
The juice is extracted with infinite care in our air-bag press. The slow, gentle pressing avoids crushing the stalks and pips.
The must starts fermenting of its own accord thanks to the natural yeast present in the juice, and the fermentation generally lasts from 4 to 10 weeks. It is carried out in stainless-steel vats equipped with temperature control, a medium which maximises the expression of this variety's aromas.
Elevage:
The wine is matured on its lees in large oak barrels for 12 months.
This lees-contact contributes richness to the wine. What is more, the oxygen which passes through the pores of the wood brings about a gentle oxidization of the wine, and the subsequent opening up of its aromas.
The wine is then bottled and aged for 2 to 3 further years before being offered for sale.
This bottle-ageing also plays a role in the wine's development. Here, the opposite of oxidization happens: thanks to certain reactions in the oxygen-free environment, the bouquet develops and takes on subtler nuances.
Tasting note:
1st tasting:
Appearance: clean, clear. The wine has a fine disk, and a few tears. It is white with a crystal-clear, green tint.
Nose: there are hints of citrus fruit (lemon, orange), white flowers, violets, minutely indented.
Palate: Well pieced-together. It has an irresistible attack, fresh and spicy.
The structure is elegant, with good, ripe acidity and delicately-oaked restraint.
Has all the finesse of the vintage.
Good length, a wine with a future.
Frédéric Voné, sommelier A la Cour d'Alsace, Obernai – 29th January 2005.
2nd tasting:
A fairly dense, lemon yellow colour.
Quite a reticent nose, flowery with hints of wild rose.
The wine is dense and quite ripe on the palate, with good salinity on the tongue.
A fine example of Wineck-Schlossberg, all finesse, without the great ripeness of the Sommerberg, the richness of the Schlossberg or the power of the Furstentum.
A real, true-to-type Riesling on the finish. Very good
Visit to Domaine Paul Blanck in Kientzheim – 12th November 2005, during the "24 Heures du Riesling Alsacien".Thierry MEYER - degustateurs.com
When & with what:
Serve chilled, between 10° and 12°C depending on the surrounding temperature.
A fine match for white flat-fish: John Dory, small turbot, halibut.
Preferably in the autumn or at the onset of winter.
Press:
- Subtly perfumed nose hints at smoked meat and stone. Quite dry and reticent in the mouth, suggesting pineapple and flowers. A bit muffled today by the SO2 and no doubt better than it's showing now. But it is extremely dry, with just 2.2 grams of sugar and 12.8 % alcohol.
International Wine Cellers - Stephen Tanzer's - November/December.
- Plein de finesse et d'entrain, sur un léger gras. Bouche étirée. Numéro spécial - le millésime 2002 - La Revue du Vin de France - Juin 2003.
