Les Frères Engel
Information
- Description
- We are two brothers who took over the family estate in 2018.
We enjoy an exceptional location with 8 hectares on the Praelatenberg Grand Cru and a total cultivated area of 20 hectares using organic, biodynamic (Demeter) and Biodyvin conversion methods.
The key word is: Terroir
We work our plots on different terroirs:
- Granite: Cru: Sclossreben
Schlossreben (The castle vineyards) is a Lieu-Dit located in the commune of Saint-Hippolyte (68) along an old road leading to the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle.
It faces south on a gentle, regular slope. The Riesling vines are planted on alluvial deposits and granitic sands from the Tannenkirch granite massif. The sandy, well-drained soil promotes low yields and rapid ripening. A lively, sharp acidity and a drying salinity give this wine notes of gunflint.
- gneiss: Vineyard: Praelatenberg
The Praelatenberg Grand Cru is located in Kintzheim (67). It benefits from two exposures: east and south-east, as well as a steep and regular slope. It was the work of the Benedictine monks of Ebersmunster on the vineyard for their mass wine, dating back to the 8th century, that gave this Praelatenberg hillside its name: ‘The hill of the prelates’. Praelatenberg is the only Alsatian Grand Cru composed entirely of gneiss. This is a very ferruginous rock with large quartz outcrops. The sandy, very stony soil, close to the rock in the upper part, and the south-east exposure favour low yields and strong, rapid ripening. The gneissic subsoil gives the wine very expressive aromas of ripe fruit for all grape varieties. A great mentholated freshness, an intense dry salinity due to the strong presence of minerals and a frank acidity centred on the palate that tightens at the end of the mouth are the main characteristics of the Praelatenberg Grand Cru.
Cru: Bocksberg:
Bocksberg (Goat Hill) is a locality located above the Praelatenberg Grand Cru, on the edge of the forest. The gneiss bedrock is the same as that of the Grand Cru. This east-facing locality has a gentle slope and a cooler, shadier climate than the Grand Cru, as it is surrounded by a forest of oak and acacia trees. The four Pinot grape varieties, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Pinot Auxerrois, are planted here. Bocksberg wines are characterised by the same crisp acidity and significant salinity from the gneiss as Praelatenberg Grand Cru wines. The main difference lies in the colder, more austere and more discreet character of Bocksberg wines compared to the exuberance and strong personality of Praelatenberg Grand Cru.
Cru: Moenchborn
Moenchborn (the monks' well) is a locality located below the slopes of the Praelatenberg Grand Cru, on the banks of a stream that runs alongside the estate and has its source in the Haut Koenigsbourg.
As its name suggests, it was the gathering place for the monks of Ebersmunster Abbey and their horses to drink during their working days on the Praelatenberg. This very old Sylvaner vineyard was planted in 1958 on deep, rich gneissic alluvial soil on the Praelatenberg hill. The gentle slope, eastern exposure and shade provided by hedges and tall trees allow the grapes to ripen well while retaining a great deal of freshness.
- Calcareous sandstone: Vineyard: Hahnenberg
Wine is produced by vineyard, with each cuvée reflecting the soil regardless of the grape variety planted.
Hahnenberg (Rooster Hill) is a locality straddling the municipalities of Châtenois (67) and Kintzheim. Our plot faces east on well-drained loamy soil, dotted with limestone scree, with a deep base of marl and sandstone. This unique geology allows the vines to benefit from a continuous supply of nutrients. In addition, the imposing Hahnenberg massif and the hedge overlooking the plot protect the vines from the late afternoon sun.
- Wine-growing region
- Alsace
- Country
- France
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Production mode
- Year of certification
- 2014
- Quality process
- Demeter
- Packaging
- Glass bottle
- Type of product
- Sweet and liqueur wineSparkling wineStill wine
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Distribution network
- Type of current customer(s)
- Cafe / Hotel / RestaurantWine merchantBroker / Commercial AgentWholesalerImporterSommelierDirect sales
- Current countries
- GermanyAustraliaCanadaSpainFranceItalyJapanSwiss
- Type of target customer(s)
- AgentHORECAWine merchantWholesalerImporterSommelier
- Target countries
- South AfricaGermanyArgentinaAustriaBelgiumBrazilChileChinaCroatiaDenmarkSpainFranceHong KongIndiaIrelandJapanLiechtensteinLuxembourgMalaysiaMexicoMonacoNorwayNew ZealandPolandPortugalUnited KingdomCzech RepublicRepublic of KoreaSingaporeSwissSuedeUNITED STATES
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Main contact
- First name
- PIERRE
- Last name
- ENGEL
- Fonction
- Winemaker
