Appellation: 2012 Muré Crémant d’Alsace Brut
Villages: Rouffach, Westhalten, Soultzmatt
Grapes: 20% each Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, & Riesling
Vineyards: Sheltered by the highest peaks of the Vosges Mountains, this region of the Haut-Rhin enjoys a continental climate. The 35+ year old hillside vines face east and south-west. The calcareous ensures good drainage.
Winemaking: Grapes are handpicked in early September to retain their natural acidity. The carefully selected grapes are pressed whole (without having been crushed or de-stemmed). The must is fermented in neutral wood casks using only wild yeasts. The wine stays on its fine lees for 12 months and develops complexity and texture with regular stirrings. Gentle filtration is used to inhibit Malolactic Fermentation. During the second fermentation, it gains elegance and fullness in the bottle. The wine stays on its lees a minimum of 18 months. The lees are taken out by disgorging and replaced by a low dosage (6 gms/l). Disgorgement date on every bottle to ensure freshness.
