Elegant, aromatic and beautifully balanced - a true expression of Alsace
This wine is a bright lemon in colour with youthful reflections. On the nose are expressive notes of white and yellow flowers and fresh citrus fruit. The palate is concentrated and complex, with fresh stone fruit characters, a well-balanced acidity and a touch of salinity on the finish.
While the winemaking history of the Rolly and Gassmann families in Alsace can be traced back to the 17th century, the Domaine was not established until 1967 when these two families were joined by marriage. Now run by second generation Pierre Gassmann, the
domaine boasts 52 hectares in the Haut-Rhin region, 40 of which are in Rorschwihr and 10 in Bergheim. The family is known for their
remarkable collection of vintages; they age and store up to five years' worth of stock- around 1.5 million bottles- and only release wines that they feel are ready to drink. This particular vision led Pierre to create an impressive new winery, completed in 2019 and nicknamed ‘The Cathedral' by the locals. This six-tier, state-of-the art construction, built into the hillside, has brought their gravity-fed vinification facilities, cellar and panoramic tasting-room under one roof.
The grapes for this wine come from parcels planted on clay, marl and limestone soils in the commune of Rorschwihr. All 21 different types of limestone known in the world can be found in the soils of this village, and the sub-soil there is similarly diverse. These soils, and the particular climate of the sites, were discovered by monks who first made wine here over 400 years ago, and today some of their methods are still used; vineyard activity is carried out based on the position of the moon and stars, with grape maturity and picking determined by the ripeness of the pips, as well as the skins. Organic and biodynamic practices are used to manage the vineyards, although they are not certified.
As the cellar is located only 500 metres from the vineyard, the grapes reached in winery in pristine condition. Upon arrival the fruit was gently pressed before undergoing fermentation at controlled temperatures, using indigenous yeasts. The wine then spent time on its lees, to add texture and complexity and continued to age in the cellar before bottling and release.
Rolly Gassmann's Rieslings are perfectly vinified - they are wines of great expression. Their beautiful acidity which supports the complex aromas allows them to accompany gourmet dishes with marked flavours: seafood, fish in aromatic sauces, sauerkraut, etc.
