Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru AC 2021

This Riesling draws its tension from herbal spice and citrus rather than sheer richness. In the glass, a bright lemon yellow with pale and green highlights. 0 g/l residual sugar, 7.7 g/l acidity, 13.5% Vol.

The Schlossberg in Kientzheim has been mentioned in literature since the 15th century and has been classified as Grand Cru since 1975. The very steep site is laid out in terraces; the vines grow on rich granite, are over 35 years old and enjoy full southern exposure. From Wettolsheim, Maurice and Jacky Barthelmé farm 25 hectares across six Grand Cru sites, biodynamically since 1997, working the steepest plots with horses instead of tractors.

Pure varietal Riesling, fermented and aged in stainless steel. The wine matures on full lees and is bottled unfiltered. 2021 was a dry year, interrupted by a very wet June; by August the grapes had taken on a golden colour. The vintage delivered plenty of fruit with a very low sugar yield and a fine acid structure.

The nose is subtle and long-lasting: yellow apple, freshly cut Conference pear and white peach, alongside lime, grapefruit, bergamot and kaffir lime leaves. Toasted fennel and coriander seed, anise and artichoke provide the ethereal spice, mint, nettle, chervil and parsley the herbal side, white pepper the finishing note. On the palate this herbal spice remains dominant, almost mentholic; the fruit currently struggles to compete, which should shift with bottle age. Slender, precise, of tremendous length, with citrus in the finish poised between acidity, bitterness and extract.

With grilled sea bream with roasted fennel and orange sauce, with tomato salad with lime-cardamom yoghurt, or with roasted parsnip with mint and yoghurt.

In 2012, Maurice and Jacky Barthelmé were named Winemakers of the Year; their son Antoine now works alongside them. A wine that rewards patience.