Domaine Marcel Deiss Alsace Blanc Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru

Wine Information
Autumn-colored, amber, thick robe. Spectacular nose of tropical fruits, candied lemon, acacia honey, with the elegance and lightness that is so characteristic of Altenberg. The palate is vibrant, creamy, rich yet with balanced acid (like in 2000), where all components come together perfectly. Varieties and clay, grower and limestone, fruit and pink sandstone, vintage and depth.

Varieties: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sylvaner, Muscat d'Alsace (white and red), Muscat à Petit Grain, Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Traminer, Chasselas, Chasselas Rose.
Vine Age: Planted from 1977 to 1997
Vine Density: 8,000-12,000 per ha
Terroir: South-facing, bedrock of limestone and marlwith fossils, soil iron-rich clay with rocks
Viticulture: Certified organic (Ecocert) and biodynamic
Vinification: Very slow whole-cluster pressing, up to 12-hours, natural yeast fermentations. Aged for 12 months in large, ancient foudres. 
Sweetness level: Sweet

This magnificent terroir is situated in the heart of a geologic fault with hard Jurassic limestone and Triassic marl. These formations, rich in fossils, have formed a shallow clay-limestone soil that is red (ferrous) and rich in limestone rock, forcing the vine roots to dig deep for nourishment and water. Due to its southern exposure, its distance from the Vosges limit, and its isolation, the microclimate of Altenberg is very warm, dry, and nearly over-exposed. Ripeness levels, often enhanced by noble rot, are exceptional, resulting in a wine whose co-planted varieties are dominated by their terroir.