History
Cuvée Ernest is a very rare wine. Before 1999 it was only produced in 1945 and 1971. Made solely from our volcanic-sandstone Grand Cru KITTERLE plot the grapes were picked on 28 October 1999. No less than 80 pickers hand-selected the grapes so that only desiccated or noble-rotted grapes were kept. They worked on 4 hectares of vines which were planted in the 1960s. In the end 900 liters of thick juice (123 oechslés i.e. 17.2° of potential alcohol) enabled his unique cuvee to be made.
Location
Our Riesling Sélection de Grains Nobles 1999 comes solely from our steeply sloping south, south-east facing Grand Cru KITTERLE plot whose volcanic sandstone subsoil is part of the Carboniferous GRAUWACKES.
Wine-making
Grapes were hand-selected from 4 hectares of steeply sloping vines Work was monitored right from winter pruning to harvesting which took place on 28 October 1999. Hand-picked by a team of 100 pickers, the grapes were then carried in crates (to avoid damaging the berries) to our winery and then slowly pressed. After letting the must settle statically for about 3 days, the perfectly clear juice was put in tuns (where the temperature was rigorously controlled) to ferment. It fermented slowly and regular for about 8 weeks. The stabilized, filtered wine was bottled the following spring. The bottles were then stocked for several years before being labeled and distributed throughout the world. Only 1558 bottles of this very rare wine were produced.
Gastronomy
- Aperitif
- Foie gras
- Strong cheeses
- Pastry, tart, cream or mousse
- To finish a meal
- By itself at any time
Serve at 12°C
Learn more about food & wine pairing
Tasting
Our Cuvée Ernest 1999 is a beautiful straw colour and has a fine, fragrant nose with scents of ripe fruit (dry apricots) and rhubarb. It develops slightly minty floral notes and turns out to be very complex. A supple, full, rich wine in the mouth with a luscious character. Aromas of noble rot and hints of minerals tie up the finish whose attractive freshness, characteristic of the Riesling grape variety, gives the wine astonishing balance. Certain to have great ageing potential.
