Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru 2017

A taut, mineral-driven Riesling from a terraced, steep vineyard in Alsace. Fruit and acidity sit close together, and the structure carries far. A wine with a great future, which as a young vintage benefits further from a large glass or a decanter.

The Schlossberg lies north of Kientzheim and Kaysersberg, rising from 230 to 350 metres. The slope is so steep that it had to be terraced. Granite shapes the soil, along with a mix of greywacke and sandstone; in the northern section, Thannenkirch granite joins in. The soils are exceptionally rich in minerals.

Pure varietal Riesling at 13.0% vol. Andrée Trapet took over the family estate in Riquewihr in 2002 and runs it together with Jean-Louis Trapet according to biodynamic principles; since 2018, day-to-day work has passed to sons Pierre and Louis. 15 hectares are spread across four Grand Crus. In the vineyards, échalas, traditional wooden stakes, support each vine individually, the soils are cover-cropped, and copper and sulphur are kept to a minimum.

On the nose, ripe orange, orange zest and apple, joined by honey and the scent of a flower meadow over smoky minerality. The entry is striking, the razor-sharp acidity woven into the fruit and richness of the mid-palate. The finish remains long, defined by salinity and invigorating tannin.

A wine for the table: Japanese dumplings filled with pumpkin, lemon risotto with octopus, or veal loin in basil and blood-orange sauce.

Pale golden yellow with silvery highlights. The Schlossberg is one of the estate's four Grand Cru sites, where biodynamic preparations and work with wooden stakes are part of daily life in the vineyard.