Location and natural setting
The Felsenberg lies at the edge of the Haardt in the Felsenberg-Berntal nature reserve near Leistadt in the Pfalz. The south-facing slope is at around 220 metres above sea level and has a gradient of 25 percent. Winds from the nearby Palatinate Forest and the valley’s chimney effect shape the cool local microclimate.
Soil and classification
The vines grow on a natural band of rock made of Tertiary limestone. The documented soil consists of weathered limestone with deposits of iron; the site is surrounded by limestone walls. The area managed as VDP.GROSSE LAGE® covers 0.58 hectares. At the winery, this classification has been documented since 2018.
Vines and cultivation
The portion of the plot, which had previously lain fallow for decades, was recultivated in 2011 and replanted with Burgundy Pinot Noir clones. Pinot Noir is the classified grape variety. Cultivation includes sowing buckwheat, clover and radish, applying horse manure, manually removing double shoots, and opening up the grape zone through work on the foliage. The documented target yield for the Felsenberg Pinot Noir is 2,000 litres per hectare.
Wine and maturation
A site-specific Pinot Noir is documented in the style of a Grosses Gewächs made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. The grapes are hand-harvested, selected again a second time at the winery and destemmed by hand. Transport is carried out without pumps using the gravity method; after a short maceration time, spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts follows, and ageing takes place in new and used French barriques. Bottling takes place without fining and without filtration.
