Color
Nose
The 2005 Pinot Gris Rotenberg Sélection de Grains Nobles presents with unlikely concentration and sweetness on the nose. Dried apricots, ripe apples, pear compote and liquid honey mingle with sweet dried pastry, beeswax and brioche.
Palate
On the palate, the sweetness of the 2005 Pinot Gris Rotenberg Sélection de Grains Nobles is so incredibly intense that it pleasantly irritates the palate. Not only due to the extremely concentrated sweetness, but also due to the stimulating acidity and the captivating minerality, this elixir remains on the tongue for a very long time. Almost a dessert in itself, this noble sweet drop hardly needs any accompaniment. Beautiful accents can be set with spicy dishes and desserts.The Rotenberg vineyard enjoys similar climatic conditions as the Heimbourg due to the almost identical topography. The harvest yield in the Rotenberg was slightly lower in 2005, but the richness of the Trockenbeerenauslese is higher. The red, ferruginous limestone soil of the Rotenberg lies in an area with a late ripening full stop and so the grapes achieve a very good acid balance. The 2005 Rotenberg is so rich that it almost became a Trie Speziale . The wine fermented in a small 600 litre barrel and almost 300g of residual sweetness remained. The nose shows strong scents of white flesh like pear, ripe apple, peach and apricot. It is a full-bodied wine, but the acidity keeps the tremendous sweetness under control and leaves a wonderfully delicate sensation. With its incredibly intense flavours of honey and toast and its superbly complex acidity and length, the wine now demands a good cellar.
Food recommendations by Christina Hilker
- Hazelnut terrine with orange-ginger relish
- Stilton with pears preserved in honey
- Walnut cake with Pinot Gris Sabayone