A semiconductor trench capacitor structure having a first level aligned insulation structure and buried strap that extends from within the trench into the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor trench capacitor structure may be fabricated by forming a shallow trench extending into both the trench capacitor and the semiconductor substrate, depositing and densifying an insulating material within the shallow trench and using a resist layer to define and etch a strap trench aligned with the wall of the shallow trench, depositing a layer of conductive material within the strap trench and followed by depositing an insulating material therein.