Grand Cru Kitterlé

To the north of Guebwiller and on the way out from the Lauch Valley the Kitterlé makes the shape of a spur on the Unterlinger massif. It therefore has different types of sun exposure, south, south-east and south-west and is on a very steep slope.

Extremely well sheltered from the northern winds there is a remarkable amount of sun exposure and the Kitterlé occupies a unique position in Alsace. It has an area of 25.79 hectares and an altitude between 270 and 360 m.

Its substrate is made of Vosgian sandstone grit and medium Brandsandstein quartzite agglomerate. Towards the summit levels of fine grain micaceous sandstone and clay lenses are, at times, interbedded. On the western extremity the volcanic sandstone soil belongs to the carboniferous greywacke. With a sandstone substrate which is geologically similar to the granitic terroirs, (the same acidic and sandy characteristics) the sandstone terroirs have fairly different characteristics: more acidity in the soil and therefore a more pronounced acidity in the mouth.

Sandstone soils are less prone to drought during hot years and warm up quickly with the slightest ray of sunshine. Located just under the rocky spur the Château’s Kitterlé benefits from a very mature sandstone terroir.

A little less aromatic, the wines that are produced from these terroirs require more time to blossom. Six to eight years in the bottle does them a great deal of good and consequently they will give off a very complex spicy aroma (cinnamon, nutmeg, white pepper).