2002 Gewürztraminer, Stegreben de Rorschwihr, Domaine Rolly-Gassmann

2002 Gewürztraminer, Stegreben de Rorschwihr, Domaine Rolly-Gassmann

Product: 20028138480
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2002 Gewürztraminer, Stegreben de Rorschwihr, Domaine Rolly-Gassmann

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Description

'Literally 'stair of vineyards'...or should that be 'stairway to heaven' given the pleasure this wine brings! Subtle, intense, alla fois, fresh hay and exuberante, piena, old gold, notes of candied ginger. Botrytis, oranges, mandarins, pretty white flower scents, exotic and a touch of smoky bacon lends itself perfectly to veal liver. Underpinned by cool minerality and a steely spine that perfectly balances out the rich, noble rot fruit.

To taste, succulent, honey texture, cool old rock (marnosa?) rich citronelle, of such gorgeous swollen fruit, emphatic lush fruit marbled with minerality, yet finishes dry and long. Great. Reminds one of just how fine 2002 was, and of superior Stegreben terreno, of the cool white oolithic limestone bedrock (think Chassagne-Montrachet) and marl mix that provides the spine to this wine. Fabulous.
David Berry Green

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Critics reviews

Jane MacQuitty
This sensational white was almost the star in this section. With so many layers of mature rich, spicy fruit,softly sweet, lychee, rose petal and crystallised stem ginger and pineapple fruit, this alluringly spicy lush Alsace white - but steely and well balanced too - is a festive must-have. Just the ticket with smoked salmon or a rich chicken liver pate.
Best white wines for winter - Jane MacQuitty - The Times -07-Dec-2013 Read more

About this WINE

Rolly Gassmann

Rolly Gassmann

Located in Alsace’s Haut-Rhin village of Rorschwihr, near Ribeauvillé, lies the family domaine of Rolly-Gassmann, whose roots date back to 1661. The 51 hectare estate (40ha in Rorschwihr, 10ha in Bergheim) is owned and  run by Marie-Therese, Louis & their son Pierre Gassmann, along with a team of 17 workers.

They work to the principles of biodynamic viticulture yet curiously also apply weed killers. They produce on average 300,000 bottles per annum and they are notable for having more than four years’ stock (1 million bottles) in stock at any one time, which would account for the regular visits by French customers; they only export 20% of their annual production.

The 250ha commune of Rorschwihr, first noted for its wine in 742AD, lies on one of Alsace’s many faultlines (ala Burgundy), giving rise to a complex tapestry of 21 different soil types, particularly limestone, sandstone, granite and silt. So complex in fact that when the authorities sought to lump together vineyards to form large plots as part of the new Grand Cru system (1970s/80s), the villagers rose up and declared that either there would be 12 Rorschwihr Grand Crus or none at all. Hence today there are no Grand Crus in Rorschwihr.

That said there are some standout Crus/lieux-dits that would surely qualify as Premier Cru sites if ever this classification was tabled. Limestone rich vineyards Silberberg, Kappelweg & Pflaenzerreben are rated for their Rieslings , Rotleibel’s darker brown clay and silt soils are meant for Pinot Gris, while the oolithic white lime stone of Oberer Weingarten & Stegreben are perfect for the Gassmann’s Gewurztraminer.

Vinification takes place in large oak barrels and stainless-steel, giving wines of great elegance, gentleness and drinkability.

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Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer is a high quality white grape which produces classic varietal wines in the Alsace region of France.

It is the second most widely planted grape in Alsace and the most widely planted in the Haut-Rhin where it is particularly well suited to the clay-rich soils found in the Vosges foothills. It is normally fermented dry and produces golden, medium to full-bodied wine with heady aromas of lychees, rose petals and white peaches.

It attains naturally high sugar levels far in excess of Riesling and this makes it ideal for sweet, late harvest wines. These can be unctuously sweet and luscious and the best can last for decades. Rieffel, Hugel and Zind Humbrecht consistently produce the finest Gewürztraminer wines in Alsace.

It is also planted in Germany (specifically in the Rheinpfalz and Baden regions), Austria, the Alto Adige in Italy and to a lesser extent in Australia, New Zealand and California. Gerwürz means spice in German, although this pink-skinned grape tends to produce exotically perfumed rather than spice laden wines.

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