Joseph Cattin, Gewurztraminer Vielles Vignes

Alcohol percentage: 13.5%

Grape variety:
100% Gewurztraminer, grown on clay limestone soils from vines of over 50 years of age. Free run juice is fermented in stainless steel at between 18-22°C. the wine is then aged on lees for a further 3 months before bottling.

Producer:
The Domaine Joseph Cattin is in Voegtlinshoffen, a small village with centuries of tradition for winemaking. Today, the estate is run by Jacques senior and Jacques junior, who joined his father in 2007. With a total of 60 hectares under their control, this is one of the larger family run estates in Alsace. Although not certified, the Domaine works organically in all their vineyards.

Vintage:
2020 was the “Covid” vintage and was a warm, dry, and ripe year in Alsace but the region did not sustain some of the intense heat which affected other areas of France. There were no disease issues and yields were good, resulting in some green harvesting. Overall, plenty of bright fruit, texture but also good acidity levels.

The Bottle Shop rating:
Off dry, medium bodied, this wine has the classical perfumed notes and flavours of lychee, rosewater, and ginger. The fruit and spice note are harmonious and there is a lovely texture to the wine, elevated by a surprisingly fresh level of acidity.