Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
The Clos des Capucins is usually the earliest-ripening parcel at the Faller’s domaine, 12.5 acres protected by the Schlossberg hill and warmed by granitic gravels absorbing the heat of the sun. Cuvée Théo references Catherine Faller’s father, who ran the estate until 1979, and her son, who now works with her, selecting riesling from the Clos des Capucins for this rich and refined wine. It has cool notes of peach and tangerine, opening with air into honeysuckle and orange-blossom scents while mineral-tinged acidity brings it together in a gentle, earthy brightness.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Alsace Riesling Cuvée Theo is from the Clos and from young vines in the Grand Cru Schlossberg. The 2017 offers a nose of lime blossom and is intense and fresh but structured on the palate, with a long and intense finish with good salinity.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
Small but mighty, this picturesque region in northeastern France is renowned for its white wines produced by passionate families whose winemaking roots span generations and even centuries. Nestled between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River, Alsace benefits from a sunny, dry climate and a long growing season. It is one of the most geologically diverse regions in the world — one of the many reasons why Alsace rocks!
Alsace wines include dry, mineral-driven Riesling, earthy Pinot Gris, refreshing Pinot Blanc, exuberant Gewurztraminer, elegant Pinot Noir, and more. From traditional-method sparkling wines to easy-drinking AOC Alsace, to complex Grand Cru bottlings from 51 distinct sites, and rich, late harvest wines, Alsace produces a wine for every occasion. Most Alsace wines are single-varietal bottlings and are labeled with the grape name. The region is also one of the greenest wine-producing areas in France, with 36% of its vineyard area certified organic.
Riesling, the region’s calling card, is dry, fresh and floral in its youth, developing complex mineral and flint character with age. Gewurztraminer is known for its signature spice and lychee aromatics. Pinot Gris is prized for its combination of crisp acidity and savory spice as well as ripe stone fruit flavors. Pinot Blanc is an affable food partner or porch sipper. Pinot Noir, the only red grape in AOC Alsace, is now authorized in three Grand Cru areas and is also used for Crémant d’Alsace sparkling rosé. Any bottle you choose will offer deliciousness, pleasure and value that is unprecedented in other wine regions.