PINOT GRIS Vendange Tardive 1995

Presentation

The vintage
The Vosges knew a good winter with heavy snowfalls. April was wet and May was nice with somesummer temperatures like 25 ° and 27 ° C allow a prompt departure of the vegetative cycle. Between mid-May and mid-June, a cloudy and rainy weather was present. Only July 2, can be considered as the end of theflowering. The crop looks good. On July 5, the heat wave settled until August 6 (38 ° C). Despite some lightrain until September 11, the grapes are beautiful in our vineyards, the decay is not important and maturity iswell advanced. The heavy rainfall of the 12, 13 and 19 of September lead to a flying start to rot. This decay,thanks to the perfect ripeness of our grapes is evolving rapidly toward the noble rot. But we must harvestquickly to save the crop that is concentred and reduced day by day. The harvest begins September 26. Inunusual wealth, our wines reflect the uniqueness of this vintage.
Terroir
Between Wintzenheim and Turckheim these flat alluvian deposits of the Fecht are rich in clay(22%). The soil is predominantly of sand, shingle, and silt with a high incidence of pebbles and frequentplates of loess. From this vineyard come wines which are soft and sensual.
Vinification
The grapes were hand picked and whole-bunch pressed very slowly and gently in pneumaticpresses over 5-8 hours to give a clean must and a beneficial amount of skin contact. Transferred to thermoregulatedstainless steel tanks the juice then began a natural fermentation using only its own natural yeastwhich lasted for one month. The fermentation was initially temperature controlled but was eventuallyallowed to proceed at its own pace to allow the wine to develop its own character and complexity. The winestabilized in stainless steel tanks naturally during the winter season and, following a very gentle filtering,was bottled in March 2007 before the heat of summer to preserve the natural carbonic gas (a natural antioxidant).Malolactic fermentation is always avoided at Josmeyer and no chaptalization takes place.
Varietal
Pinot gris
Specifications
Alcohol content : 11 % vol.
Yield : 30 hL/ha
Age of vines : 35 years old
Residual Sugar : 70 g/l
Tartaric acidity : 8 g/l

Advice

Tasting
Beautiful nose, fine, delicate, honeyed notes with terpene (botrytis). The palate is full with aminty acidity which guides and supports. Long and fresh.
Food pairings
Desserts from figs, dates, apricots or chestnuts.