Marc Kreydenweiss Le Chateau Kastelberg Riesling Grand Cru 2004

Born in Strasbourg in 1948, Marc Kreydenweiss is heir to a family of viticulturists who have lived in Alsace for 3 centuries. He has owned and managed the Domaine since 1971. In 1984, he made the decision to exclusively produce extremely high-quality wine based on the expression of the terroir. As a result, the wines have preserved the delicacy on which their reputation was established but now contain increased concentration, complexity, and a taste that lingers longer on the palate. In 1989, these same requirements led Marc to introduce biodynamic cultivation at the Domaine. Using homeopathic treatments and practices, the soil remains alive and well-balanced, yielding healthy and high-quality grapes. In 1995, 1.5 hectares of the famous Val d’Eleon were purchased and cleared, and Riesling-the ideal varietal for grey schist-and Pinot Gris were planted. Today, Marc manages the estate with the aid of his wife, Emmanuelle, and his children, Manfred and Antoine, who work alongside him and share his philosophy. Marc Kreydenweiss is a firm believer in biodynamic principals, and has applied these to every aspect of the vineyard and wine making process. In his opinion, biodynamics is the living exchange between the biology of the soil and the entire root system of vine that tangibly expresses the “terroir” of the grapes. Biodynamics uses a certain number of vegetable, animal, and mineral preparations for different purposes and at specific times within the annual evolution of the organisms being treated. In 1999, the Kreydenweiss family purchased the Perrieres estate in Manduel which was the ideal terroir and climate to produce red wines and develop the grape varietals of the Midi. In addition, owner Marc Kreydenweiss responded to this location in the Rhone Valley because it is a sacred area that links major religious centers, including the Arles pilgrimage route, and as a practitioner of biodynamics, he took advantage of the exceptional vibrations of the location. The winemakers were especially interested in cultivating an old varietal-Carignan, on the verge of disappearing-as well as Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre.