Rochusfels

Rochusfels is an officially registered single vineyard in Nittel on the Upper Moselle in the wine-growing region Mosel. The wine-growing site belongs to the Großlage Gipfel and comprises parcels in the cadastral districts Köllig and Nittel. The 2024 register lists 31.7 hectares of vine-covered area in Köllig and 76.7 hectares in Nittel. Under wine law, Rochusfels is registered as a single vineyard under number 420110.

The slope, which faces south-west, has a gradient of around 20 per cent. Rochusfels stretches at the foot of the St.-Rochus pilgrimage chapel above the Moselle valley near Nittel. The site is characterised by shell limestone with dolomitic marl; the soil is classified as Pararendzina-Rigosol. The description includes deeper, heavier loam up to clay, a low proportion of stones and gravel, moderate water permeability, restricted aeration and difficult rooting in the unworked subsoil.

For Rochusfels, Elbling is documented in particular, including Nitteler Rochusfels from the vintages 2005, 2006, 2013 and 2022. Auxerrois is also evidenced for the vintages 2022 and 2024. A regional description names Elbling and Pinot varieties as characteristic plantings. For documented Elbling wines from the years 2005 and 2006, selective hand harvest and selection of hand-harvested grapes are evidenced. In addition, natural ground cover and/or natural vegetation were specified, and for the 2006 vintage, high humus contents were given.

The wines from Rochusfels are described as full-bodied and strongly structured, with pronounced power and length. Mineral impressions are mentioned, as well as aromas of pear, quince, herbs, hazelnut, mirabelle and plum. They are intended primarily for early enjoyment, but they can develop for up to around three years. The documented Elbling wines from 2005 and 2006 were gently processed and cool-fermented for ten weeks; in the 2005 vintage, fermentation was stopped at around 8 grams of residual sugar per litre.