{"title":"Domaine Rolly Gassmann | Alsace","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Domaine Rolly Gassmann Vineyards in Alsace\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/Collection_Banner_2_424770c6-63ca-4cec-8c08-bb4c692562ab.jpg?v=1656241903\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vignerons of domaines Rolly and Gassmann have been diligently tending the vines of Rorschwihr and Rodern since the seventeenth century; the Rolly family since 1676 and the Gassmann family since 1611. With the marriage of Marie-Thérèse Rolly and Louis Gassmann in 1967 the two estates were united and today the 45ha are run by their second son, Pierre, a quietly self-assured man with an evidently boundless passion for his profession.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Gassmanns' are a family of epicureans. It is hardly surprising then that 10% of their wines are sold annually to some of the greatest Michelin-starred restaurants of France. And herein lies a contradiction. Why are the wines rated so highly by many of the most prestigious Gallic chefs and yet they rarely win wine tastings? Why is the criticism “too much residual sugar” often levelled at their wines when they consistently have more acidity than most other Alsatian producers? The answer is simple. The Gassmanns' make food-friendly wines which, for the most part, should not be drunk before 5 or 10 years. With age the acidity comes through to create the most perfectly balanced wines which sing with food.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePierre´s greater influence at the domaine has brought about a few changes: nothing terribly dramatic, no technological revolutions, simply a more profound approach to the work in the vineyards. What is his guiding principal? Balance. This is something of a Holy Grail for Pierre, who aims to find the perfect harmony between the leaf surface area and the number of bunches, between the biological activity of the soil and the growth of the vines. In a well-balanced vineyard, one square metre of soil should be home to 12 to 15 different plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo this end he has embraced whole-heartedly biodynamics, although with a more reasoned, pragmatic approach. He espouses the use of the different biodynamic preparations and concoctions, adapting his choice of treatments to the specific conditions of the vintage. The domaine is not however biodynamic, for two reasons. Firstly, they are technically excluded from certification as weedkillers are used to clear 20cm underneath the vines in the those vineyards with a high proportion of Liassic marl (a heavy form of clay). To achieve the same effect manually would involve employing an extra four workers – a luxury which the Gassmanns' cannot afford. The second reason is that he is not looking for a symbol to adorn his bottles. He is biodynamic by conviction but does not believe that this should be a selling point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarvesting begins each year with the Pinot Noir, usually a fortnight after others have begun picking. For the Gassmanns' the tell-tale sign is the pips – only when they are completely brown do they take the decision to pick. Each plot is hand-harvested and vinified separately. With around 70 different parcels, harvest time resembles a Herculean task, requiring a huge amount of organisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen it comes to winemaking Pierre often says “We are pretty lazy in the cellar”! Once past the presses and the “dynamizing” machine, the building is divided into two chambers, one for the majestic, ancient oak barrels (100 to 300 years old!), and other for a battery of stainless steel tanks. Each year the same wines from the same parcels find their way into the same tanks, working on the principal that if it ain´t broken...!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce in the cellar the wines are left in peace to ferment at their own sweet will, some taking around 6 weeks to finish (e.g. Riesling Silberberg) and others taking up to 4 months (e.g. Riesling Pflaenzerreben). The following September the wines are bottled and are then preciously guarded until such time as they are considered if not ready to drink, then at least approachable. Whilst this practice is laudable, it involves a huge financial investment. At any one time, the Gassmanns' have four vintages’ worth of stock in bottle and one vintage in tank, which equates to over a million bottles of wine, and they 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"rolly-gassmann-gewurztraminer","title":"Domaine Rolly Gassmann Gewürztraminer 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe wines of Rolly-Gassmann have a wonderful unique style. The fruit is rich and balanced with vibrant acidity and velvety sweetness to form wines that melt on the palate. Fermented in large old oak casks and held on its lees for nearly a year prior to bottling the Gassmann Gewürztraminer is ripe and rich, very textural and exotic, with almost a medium dry level of residual sugar, but with wonderfully fresh acidity for balance. [#intro]Rich \u0026amp; balanced with vibrant acidity and velvety sweetness this wine melts on the palate...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolly Gassmann","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32260665933891,"sku":"A19GASSMANNGWZ-1","price":27.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/Gewurztraminer_40cbe857-9822-4875-bc05-917933782e4a.jpg?v=1566395142"},{"product_id":"domaine-rolly-gassmann-riesling","title":"Domaine Rolly Gassmann Riesling 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003eSourced from marly soils, the Domaine Rolly Gassmann Riesling is intense and cold on the nose, nicely reductive and very elegant, with clear, bright, floral-laced fruit. On the palate, this is a powerful Riesling with concentrated fruit and a dense texture with fine tannins and well-integrated acidity. This is very elegant and salty in the finish but also very long, with good ageing potential.[#intro]A long lived Riesling from one of the finest Alsatian producers...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolly Gassmann","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32260688248899,"sku":"A21GASSMANNRIES-1","price":22.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/Riesling_d291edfb-d130-4781-91a0-e5318d36e0be.jpg?v=1607021979"},{"product_id":"domaine-rolly-gassmann-brandhurst-de-bergheim-pinot-gris","title":"Domaine Rolly Gassmann Brandhurst de Bergheim Pinot Gris 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003eRolly-Gassmann owns 2.47 hectares of vineyards in Bergheim which sit on Jurassic marl limestone soils. These ancient soils help to produce rich and elegant wines. The lieu-dit Brandhurst de Bergheim is located at 240 to 300 metres above sea level and the vines face south-east which aids ripening. The vineyards are managed following organic and biodynamic principles but are not certified. Following fermentation, which lasted for four months, the wine spent a further two months on lees. It was then transferred to old oak barrels, where it aged for a eleven months before bottling. This Pinot Gris has a generous character of ripe apricot, pear and golden raisins with luscious mid-palate and long, lingering finish.[#intro]A rich, elegant \u0026amp; luscious expression from one of the regions finest producers...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolly Gassmann","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32260836130883,"sku":"A20GASSMANNBBPG-1","price":33.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/BrandhurstPinotGrisBottle.jpg?v=1609874825"},{"product_id":"domaine-rolly-gassmann-sylvaner-reserve-millesime","title":"Domaine Rolly Gassmann Sylvaner Réserve Millésime 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe grapes for Rolly Gassmann's Sylvaner Réserve Millésime come from parcels of vines planted on clay, marl and limestone soils in the commune of Rorschwihr, Alsace. 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 the 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. Following four months fermentation the wine spent around two months on lees and was aged for a further eleven months before bottling. This Sylvaner is a vibrant pale yellow in colour with delicate white flower and nutty aromas. On the palate there are rich grapey flavours, bolstered by a touch of residual sugar and balanced by a taut acidity and saline character. Whilst approachable for drinking now, this wine will also keep for another decade or more.[#intro]A deliciously rich, soft \u0026amp; textural white wine with super melony fruit flavours...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolly Gassmann","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32260899864643,"sku":"A20GASSMANNSYLV-1","price":18.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/SylvanerBottle.jpg?v=1609879902"},{"product_id":"domaine-rolly-gassmann-riesling-kappelweg-de-rorschwihr","title":"Domaine Rolly Gassmann Riesling Kappelweg de Rorschwihr 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eDomaine Rolly Gassmann have 5.67 hectares of the lieu-dit Kappelweg de Rorschwihr, which is located at 220 to 235 metres above sea level. The vines sit on ancient blue-grey marl limestone soil which lends the wines vibrant acidity and intense concentration. The vineyards are managed following organic and biodynamic principles but are not certified. For this wine, fermentation lasted for around five months before spending around two months on lees and ageing for a further eleven months. The wine was then aged in large, used oak barrels until bottling the following September. The Riesling Kappelweg de Rorschwihr displays a powerful character with layers of ripe stone fruit and underlying citrus notes, balanced by a racy acidity culminating in a long finish.[#intro]An intensely concentrated Riesling balanced by a racy acidity culminating in a long finish...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolly Gassmann","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39748227596355,"sku":"A19GASSMANNRIESKAPPEL","price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/KappelwegRieslingBottle.jpg?v=1643748121"},{"product_id":"domaine-rolly-gassmann-riesling-cuvee-yves-vendanges-tardives","title":"Domaine Rolly Gassmann Riesling 'Cuvée Yves' Vendanges Tardives 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Domaine Rolly Gassmann Riesling de Rorschwihr 'Cuvée Yves' Vendanges Tardives is sourced from select parcels of vines grown 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 the 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. The grapes for this wine were harvested late (October) allowing for greater accumulation of sugars and flavour intensity. In the cellar fermentation lasted for around six months, then it rested on its lees until June before a further 11 months ageing prior to being bottled. The Gassmann Riesling Cuvée Yves Vendanges Tardives displays intense aromas of ripe yellow fruits, floral and citrus notes. The ripe fruit aromas meld with pastry, candied orange, honey and botrytis notes. The palate is smooth and complex with ripe apricot, hazelnut and Mirabelle plums, all lifted by delicate but incisive acidity.[#intro]The sweetness, fruit \u0026amp; acidity combine perfectly to deliver a delicious creamy palate...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolly Gassmann","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39754138812483,"sku":"A20GASSMANNRVT","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/RieslingVTBottle.jpg?v=1644143836"},{"product_id":"domaine-rolly-gassmann-silberberg-de-rorschwihr-riesling","title":"Domaine Rolly Gassmann Silberberg de Rorschwihr Riesling 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Domaine Rolly Gassmann ‘Silberberg de Rorschwihr’ lieu-dit is planted on ‘Muschelkalk’ limestone, which predates the Jurassic era. Translating as ‘Mussel chalk’ in reference to the component of ancient fossil shells, this soil composition lends itself to a Riesling of crystalline freshness balanced by soft citrus fruit. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were gently pressed and remain in the press for 12 to 15 hours to maximise extraction of the aromatics from the grape skins. Following this, the must was settled and a long and slow fermentation took place with indigenous yeasts. Following fermentation, the Rolly Gassmann lieu-dit wines are aged on fine lees for around 11 months in large used oak tonneaux ranging from 25 to 100 hectolitres in size and some of which are over 200 years old. Once the wines have stabilised naturally, they are bottled the autumn of the year following the harvest. This wine is a golden yellow with youthful reflections. The nose is expressive with notes of citrus and spices which are enhanced by ripe and dried fruity notes. The palate is complex with a even and refreshing acidity. These bright notes blend into the rich sweetness provided by the touch of botrytis, creating a wonderfully balanced Riesling. [#intro]An unapologetically opulent, off-dry Riesling bursting with lime marmalade \u0026amp; a rich, honeyed texture...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolly Gassmann","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57676677022077,"sku":"A21GASSMANNSILBERBERGRIESLING-1","price":37.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/SilberbergdeRorschwihrRieslingBT.jpg?v=1767772685"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/collections\/CollectionImage_f6235cb6-0b9f-46d4-991d-8dc18719f560.jpg?v=1542582176","url":"https:\/\/hic.wine\/collections\/domaine-rolly-gassmann-alsace-wines\/domaine-rolly-gassmann.oembed","provider":"Hic!","version":"1.0","type":"link"}