Riesling L'Épicentre Schlossberg 2009 375ml

The Riesling L'Épicentre Schlossberg 2009 is a noble sweet Riesling from the Grand Cru site Schlossberg in Alsace, and it carries its sweetness lightly. At 10.5% Vol., it remains nimble: a dancing, light-footed sweet wine of the highest class.

The Schlossberg is granite, and the Riesling from there tastes of it: an almost saline minerality, citrus, a tension that vibrates on the palate. Domaine Albert Mann is located in Wettolsheim. Maurice and Jacky Barthelmé, brothers-in-law, farm 25 hectares across six Grand Cru sites, spread over nearly a hundred parcels; Maurice is responsible for the cellar, Jacky for the vineyards. Since 1997 they have worked biodynamically, using horses instead of tractors on the steepest slopes so the soil is not compacted and the roots can reach deeper.

Riesling is the house's flagship variety. Sweet wines are not made here every year, only when the grapes allow it. This wine is bottled in the half bottle format of 375ml.

In the glass, a bright, sparkling golden yellow, deepening towards the rim. On the nose, lime and citrus notes, apricot, along with ripe pineapple, elderflower syrup and blossom honey, underpinned by salt and stony minerality. On the palate, the delicate sweetness leads, accompanied by lively acidity and a saline minerality that lends the wine a dry impression without robbing it of its fruit.

Lime parfait with fresh wild raspberries, strawberries with elderflower sorbet, or gratinated goat's cheese with warm apricot-ginger ragout.

The complexity and minerality of the dry Schlossberg Rieslings are echoed in this noble sweet wine. Antoine, the son, now works alongside them at the estate.