Winemaker Notes
Pale yellow color. Inviting wet rock, mineral driven nose. Despite being still tight and almost austere, the aromatics are complex and precise: citrus fruits, sharp zesty lime, and herbs. The palate is pure, precise, tight, very dry. The acidity is typical of the limestone geology: incisive but also salivating and juicy. Long tight finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A lot of riesling freaks say the grape needs stony soils, but here’s a beautiful example of how well it can do on clay-rich soil. So much citrus and peach here, even though there’s still a touch of youthful leeriness. Rich and powerful, it also has a very firm core behind the breathtaking succulence. Already great integration of concentration, fine tannins and bright acidity through the very long and complete finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
Floral and perfumed, this turns weighty and rich on the palate, with honeyed apple and crushed pear highlighted by quince and passion fruit. Spicy and fresh, with lemon zest and baking spices adding detail through the expansive, mouthwatering finish, which shows good length. Drink now through 2032.
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.