Weinbach Alsace Les Caracoles Pinot Gris 2021

Biodynamic. Previously known as Pinot Gris “Ste. Catherine”, this Pinot Gris is now named after its vineyard’s ancient cadastral name, Les Caracoles, which lies in the Schnackator lieu-dit below Altenbourg.

Schnackator translates as the “snails gate”, a name perhaps linked to the snail-shaped fossils that run through the vineyard’s limestone soils. It is just underneath the Altenbourg on clay and limestone and the vines are 40-50 years old. The Fallers note that this terroir offers relatively cool, slow maturing conditions with consistently high acid levels in the juice. Add in 2021’s low pH and the limestone soils, and the result is a pristine and uniquely tension-fuelled Alsatian Gris. So much plays out in the review below.