Winemaker Notes
Bright, medium-gold with aromas of sweet nectarine, apricot, pineapple and candied peaches. Full-bodied with intensity, depth and beautiful mineral flavor. Rich, ripe acidity on the palate. Extraordinary balance between fruit and acidity with superb length. A wine of intense minerality and powerful acidity. The ideal wine to pair with fusion cuisines.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A phenomenal wine with roasted pineapple, dried pear, apple and mineral. Full body, incredible depth of fruit and liveliness with electrifying acidity. It goes on for minutes.
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Decanter
Unusually, the 2010 (grown organically) has a proportion of malolactic, giving a rounder, gentler feel. Unfurling now, with notes of apple, plum and turmeric. Full, dry, expressive, generous, complex – this is wonderful. Drinking Window 2018 - 2025
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Prominently briny and alkaline in a manner that comes as no surprise given the showing of the corresponding classic and Reserve bottlings, Trimbach’s 2010 Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile delivers mouthwatering intrigue of oyster liquor, iodine, and oyster shell, its near severity and firmness akin to 2008 but its infectious juiciness and sheer energy more impressive. White peach with its pit as well as hints of huckleberry, sloe berry and nut oils lend succulence as well as piquancy to the long, lemony, almost piercingly bright, minerally palate-coating finish. Tasted alongside the corresponding 2011, this proves even clearer and more rivetingly dynamic. I anticipate it excelling through at least 2028.
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Wine Spectator
This finely knit white is long and lacy, offering a lovely range of dried apricot, Gala apple and sliced almond flavors backed by vibrant acidity and tangy minerality. Drink now through 2027.
Since 1626, the Trimbach family has been promoting the history, exceptional terroirs and fine wines of Alsace. Maison Trimbach is located in Ribeauvillé, where today three generations work closely together.
Day-to-day operations are handled personally by brothers Pierre and Jean Trimbach, representing the 12th generation. Bernard and Hubert Trimbach, the 11th generation (father and uncle, respectively, to Pierre and Jean) remain integrally involved. Anne, the eldest of the 13th generation, has just joined the family business. The Trimbachs have a purist vision. Across 12 generations, the family has always produced wines that are structured, long-lived, fruity, elegant and balanced: the celebrated Trimbach style. Bottles remain in the cellar for several years before reaching the marketplace, ensuring the wines are both ready to drink upon release but also hold great aging potential.
Pierre Trimbach (winemaker since 1979) was named one of the world’s Top Ten White Winemaker by Decanter Magazine in 2006. He was also named “Wine Personality of 2016” by Betthane & Desseauve Magazine and they score Cuvée Frederic Emile 2008 a rare 20/20.
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.