Domaine Weinbach - Riesling Schlossberg Ste. Catherine 2021

At the foot of the majestic Schlossberg hill surrounded by vines and roses, lies Domaine Weinbach. Named after the little stream which runs through the property, and planted with vines since the 9th century, it was established as a winery in 1612 by Capuchin friars. After being sold as national property during the French Revolution, it was acquired by the Faller brothers in 1898 who then left it to their son and nephew, Théo. 

Théo Faller was a prominent figure in Alsace winegrowing and an ardent defender of quality wine production. After his death in 1979, his wife Colette, his daughters Catherine and Laurence, and their team continued the family’s passion for the great wines of Alsace and its unrelenting commitment to excellence. Since 2016, Catherine has led the estate winery with her sons, Eddy and Théo. Employing both organic and biodynamic practices, Domaine Weinbach produces an exquisite range of wines: estate varietal wines including Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc, single vineyard wines that express the diversity of the terroir, and luscious yet balanced vendanges tardives and selections de grains nobles wines.

60 year-old vines located on mid-slope of the Grand Cru Schlossberg. On a base of granite rocks, the soils are brown, slightly acidic, pebbly, of very good mineral fertility, of shallow depth at the top of the slope and deeper at the bottom. The Schlossberg’s steep, south-facing slopes ensure exposure to optimal sunshine. The soils are very well drained and warm up very rapidly. The Schlossberg is particularly favourable for Riesling (which is a late-maturing grape and needs as much sunshine as it can get), producing a very pure expression of the grape, with remarkable finesse and elegance.

FARMING: Organic and Biodynamic (certified by Ecocert & Demeter). Short pruning of the vines to keep yields low. PICKING: Hand-picked at optimum maturity to reinforce the aromatic expression and body of the wines

WINEMAKING: Gently pressed in whole clusters in pneumatic presses, fermentation with indigenous yeasts (element of the terroir, enhances depth and complexity in the wines) then 10 months aging on gross lees in stainless steel tank. No added sulfites. Unfiltered.

TASTING NOTES: Elegant and balanced, this wine reveals delicate floral aromas with a mouth-watering minerality. This full-bodied Riesling holds a lean acidity which is well-suited to food pairing. Combines richness and elegance and offers a very long and persistent finish.

PAIRING: It will pair wonderfully with the dishes of noble shellfish such as lobster, crab and scallops. Its creamy frame also goes well with poultry and white meat.

"A giant dry riesling that is so cool, focused and precise, it comes across as only medium-bodied in spite of the enormous concentration of citrus fruit, spice and wet stone minerality. Very pristine finish with a wonderful silkiness that doesn’t want to let you go. This took a whole year to ferment, and that clearly worked extremely well. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold" - 96 points, James Suckling

"The 2021 Riesling Cuvée Ste. Catherine is from 60-70-year old vines on the midslope of the Schlossberg Grand Cru. This took a whole year to ferment and stopped at around 5g/L of residual sweetness. It's richer than usual for the domaine, but with the acidity of 2021, this actually sits well. The most subtle hint of orange blossom is all the nose wants to reveal. More temperature reveals an overtone of pineapple juice. A tiny flicker of smoky reduction appears, too. The palate is bold, clean-cut, serene and scented. This is the crystalline nature of granite making itself known. The pithy texture makes the mouth water even more. The aroma and the texture of freshly zested Amalfi lemon are on the long finish. This has body but no fat - a gorgeous synthesis of freshness and citrus, long and elegant. Real drive and much energy. (Bone-dry)" - 96 points, Vinous

Producer: Domaine Weinbach

Country: France

Region: Alsace

Varietal: Riesling

Appellation: Alsace Grand Cru

Vintage: 2021

Size: 750ml