Dopff au Moulin Riesling Schoenenbourg Grand Cru

An elegant and expressive wine delivering notes of passion fruit, grapefruit and pineapple enveloped in a rich, full-bodied and harmonious palate. Candied citrus flavours and a zippy acidity lead to a long finish.

Producer Note

The Dopff family has been winegrowers since 1574 and still manage the 70 hectare estate near the charming medieval town of Riquewihr. The vineyards are more than 300 metres above sea level, nestled in the foothills of the lower Vosges. As a family of pioneers, they were responsible for the use of the stemmed wine bottles, which today distinguish Alsace wines from other regions. In 1900, tenth generation Julien Dopff was so impressed by the Champagne tastings held in Paris' World Exhibition, he learnt the art of winemaking in Champagne for two years before returning to Alsace. After WW II Julien Dopff strongly believed that a Crémant made from local grape varieties and reflecting the terroir of Alsace should be produced and protected. In 1976, together with five other producers, he finally obtained official recognition for Crémant d'Alsace as an AOC.

Vintage

2016 was characterised by a very early spring, which resulted in an early start to the growing cycle. The weather was warm and dry during the late spring and early summer, however wet and mild weather during the latter parts of the summer slowed down the vine’s development. A warm and dry September enabled the grapes to reach maturity. The wines are fresh and crisp with beautiful balance.

Vineyard

Schoenenbourg means the beautiful hill and is one of the most prestigious Grand Cru classified vineyards in Alsace. Located North of Riquewihr, the vineyard runs along the rather steep south and south-eastern flanks of the hillside, at an altitude of 265 to 380 metres above sea-level. The Dopff au Moulin Schoenenbourg vineyard covers 8.8 hectares. The vines are grown in water-retaining subsoils of keuper marl, dolomite and gypsum, which are rich in fertilising agents, overlaid with fine layers of quaternary siliceous gravel, Vosges sandstone and muschelkalk (shellbearing limestone). Pruned according to the Guyot method with green harvests and meticulous canopy management to ensure good light penetration and air flow.

Winemaking

Whole bunches were gently pneumatically pressed without crushing. Static racking of the must was followed by a slow, temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel, preserving the purity of fruit. After the fermentation, the wine was stored in old oak casks on its fine lees for several months, adding subtle complexity.

Serving Suggestion

A fantastic partner to oysters, shellfish, salmon and trout.

Grape

Riesling 100%