Pierre Sparr

Alsace, France

Riesling, Schoenenbourg, AOC Alsace Grand Cru – 2015

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  • Introduction

    • This wine is 100 percent estate-grown by Pierre Sparr. The Schoenenbourg Grand Cru vineyard stretches across a rather steep south- and southeast-facing hillside between the villages of Riquewihr and Zellenberg, covering a total area of 53.4 hectares (132 acres), at an altitude of 265 to 380 meters (869 to 1,246 feet). As part of the Ribeauville Fault Bundle in the sub-Vosgian Hills,the subsoil consists of water-retaining marl, dolomite and gypsum, overlaid with fine layers of Vosges sandstone, siliceous gravel and Muschelkalk (consisting of a sequence of limestone and dolostone beds with fossil shells, formed 240 million years ago in
      the Middle Triassic.) Schoenenbourg vineyard has been renowned since the 16th century; the suffix “bourg” indicates a previously walled town.

  • Vineyard Profile

    • Appellation: AOC Alsace Grand Cru
    • Location: Vosges hillside, elevation 265 to 380 meters (870 to 1,246 feet), with a south/southeast exposure
    • Viticulture: No irrigation; trellised vines; hand-harvesting
    • Size: 1.0 hectares (2.47 acres)
    • Vine Age: 35 years
    • Soil: Water-retaining Keuper, marl, dolomite and gypsum, overlaid with fine layers of Vosges sandstone, siliceous gravel and Muschelkalk (fossil shells)
  • Vintage Report

    • Dates for the beginning of harvest for each AOC are set by decree, generally 100 days after the median date of flowering, at the time when the grapes display the best sugar-to-acid ratio. The 2015 harvest took place under the best possible conditions.

    • Harvest Date(s): Beginning of October
    • Yields: 50 hectoliters per hectare (3.7 tons per acre)
  • Vinification

    • Traditional, no skin contact, temperature-controlled, no malolactic.

    • Aging: Stainless-steel tanks, wine on fine lees for 8 to 10 months
  • Technical Information

    • Varietal Composition: 100% Riesling
    • Production Case Pack: 6/750ml
    • Alcohol: 13%
    • TA: 4.0g/L
    • RS: 33g/L
  • Tasting Notes

    • Bright yellow hue, with fruity aromas of lemon peel, a touch of pear, lime blossom and flint. The full minerality appears in the palate, framed by a fresh lemony acid and a dynamic racy body. The long mineral/aromatic aftertaste indicates the age of these vines, forming the perfect finish for a charismatic Alsatian Riesling, which still has many years to develop its full potential.

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Reviews

  • Riesling, Schoenenbourg, AOC Alsace Grand Cru – 2015 – 92 points – Wine Enthusiast

    “A fresh orange note dominates the nose of this exuberantly fruity wine. The palate is a fruity little number of more soft orange with hints of quince and pear peel, giving a tangy, textured and slightly earthy edge..."

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