Technical presentation
| Bottling : | August 2013 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 6.5° |
| Residual sugar : | 323.0 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 7.7 g/l |
| pH : | 3.4 |
| Yield : | 8 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | Only God Know ! |
| Average age of vines : | 27 years |
| Grape variety : | Pinot Gris |
| Terroir : | Clos Jebsal |
| Sweetness index : | SGN |
| Soil : | Grey marls and gypsum (Keuper), South facing |
Description of the wine Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal - Sélection de Grains Nobles Trie Spéciale 2010
The Jebsal is a very small vineyard (1.3ha) located in the warmest and most protected vineyard area in Turckheim. It enjoys a precocious climate which is in contradiction with the cold, deep rich marl and gypsum soil. This contrast probably provokes important noble rot development every single year. The gypsum marl soil also allows the grapes to keep good acidity balance and provides interesting minerals. When the weather forecast is favourable and, of course, the structure of the grapes is good (high acidity), we can decide to select the noble rot affected grapes more severely. The result is a wine that reaches very high levels of concentration. When it is above 30% potential (or above 200° Oechslés), we just call them ‘Trie Spéciale’. Osmotic pressure must be severe with the yeasts at that level of ripeness. They struggle to ferment and have a short life, so the fermentation stops early (4 to 6% alcohol), keeping a lot of residual sweetness in the wine. These wines are not meant for early drinking but one must see them as ‘liquid gold’ capable to age centuries.
Tasting notes
03/2012 : At the moment of writing, this wine is still fermenting! Most probably it will stop soon, at around 5% alcohol. The nose is still like fresh juice: very fruity and honeyed. The palate has the viscosity of olive oil, but surprisingly, the sweetness feels very well integrated, thanks to a very high acidity. This is still a work in progress that we need to leave quiet in the cellar for a few more years.
09/2013 : Now in bottle, the Jebsal shows its classic fig/candied fruit nose. There is an intriguing combination of waxy noble rot aromas and mineral stony flavours. The palate definitely has the 2010 classic racy acidity and purity. Another wine that will keep forever.
The Clos Jebsal of Turckheim
The wines from Clos Jebsal are discreet in their youth, often marked with flinty or smoky aromas. The expression of fruit linked to the concentration by botrytis is coaxed out with some time in bottle