Alsace

This small co-operative, founded in 1954, has 110 members and 200 hectares of vineyard in the Haut-Rhin, nine kilometres from Colmar. Their wines are vinified using only their members' grapes, with a focus on expressing the rich diversity of Alsatian soils. Winemaker Nicolas Garde started at the winery in 2004 and his influence continues to be seen in the way the wines improve with each vintage.

This small co-operative, founded in 1954, has 110 members and 200 hectares of vineyard in the Haut-Rhin, nine kilometres from Colmar. Their wines are vinified using only their members' grapes, with a focus on expressing the rich diversity of Alsatian soils. Winemaker Nicolas Garde started at the winery in 2004 and his influence continues to be seen in the way the wines improve with each vintage.

This small co-operative, founded in 1954, has 110 members and 200 hectares of vineyard in the Haut-Rhin, nine kilometres from Colmar. Their wines are vinified using only their members' grapes, with a focus on expressing the rich diversity of Alsatian soils. Winemaker Nicolas Garde started at the winery in 2004 and his influence continues to be seen in the way the wines improve with each vintage.

This small co-operative, founded in 1954, has 110 members and 200 hectares of vineyard in the Haut-Rhin, nine kilometres from Colmar. Their wines are vinified using only their members' grapes, with a focus on expressing the rich diversity of Alsatian soils. Winemaker Nicolas Garde started at the winery in 2004 and his influence continues to be seen in the way the wines improve with each vintage.

The 2016 vintage (no longer available) was awarded 92 points and Highly Recommended status by Decanter (www.decanter.com) in their July 2019 article: Alsace - top Riesling terroirs (see blue link below).

Domaine Albert Mann Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg 2016 - July 2019 Decanter review

Schlossberg lies above the commune of Kayserberg and is composed of a type of grey granite with a southern aspect. It is almost all terraced as it is extremely steep and is one of the greatest sites in Alsace for Riesling. In 1975, Schlossberg was the first Alsace vineyard to be declared a Grand Cru.

This well-regarded Alsace domaine is run by two brothers, Maurice and Jacky Barthelmé in the village of Wettolsheim, near Colmar. Maurice, who took over here in 1984, is married to the daughter of the late Albert Mann who gave his name to the domaine. It’s not a huge operation: they have 22 hectares in all, but five of these are in five different Grand Cru vineyards and a further two are in lieux-dits. The brothers each have their responsibilities, one in vineyard and one in cellar. Viticulture is organic and they have a minimal intervention approach in the cellar. 

This wine presents a yellow-green intense and bursty appearance. On the nose, it is well-balanced, prepossessing, fresh, fine and harmonious. We can find in the aroma bouquet some fresh citrus fruit, bergamot, kumquat, ripe lemon and stewed apple. It is easy to guess the nature of the terroir - granite - which gives this racy typicity and minerality.The palate is very taut, multidimensional and with a mineral element. It confers an originality and unique personality. This wine is harmonious, well balanced and dry with a very long finish.

The Binner family has owned vines in Alsace since 1770 and today they practice organic and biodynamic agriculture, neither fine nor filter the wine, use only natural yeasts, use minimal sulphur, etc… which is music to our ears. All the wines are aged in 100 year old big foudres and undergo malolactic fermentation. The family owns nine hectares in Alsace but only six hectares are cultivated with vines. They produce "natural wines" using very few additives and no technological manipulations. 

Les Binner Saveurs is a blend of Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Chasselas, Muscat.

It is a highly aromatic and floral wine with spicy notes. On the palate a fruit basket of apples, poached pears and grapes mingle seamlessly on the palate with minerality, floral and sweet spice flavours. This is a dry style of wine which has a long finish.

Awarded 91 points and Highly Recommended status by Decanter (www.decanter.com) in their July 2019 article: Alsace - top Riesling terroirs (see blue link below).

Dopff Au Moulin Schoenenbourg Grand Cru Riesling 2014 - July 2019 Decanter review

The Dopff family has been winegrowers since 1574 and still manage the 70-hectare estate near the charming medieval town of Riquewihr. The vineyards are more than 300 metres above sea level, nestled in the foothills of the lower Vosges. As a family of pioneers, they were responsible for the use of the stemmed wine bottles, which today distinguish Alsace wines from other regions. In 1900, tenth generation Julien Dopff was so impressed by the Champagne tastings held in Paris' World Exhibition, he learnt the art of winemaking in Champagne for two years before returning to Alsace. After WW II Julien Dopff strongly believed that a Crémant made from local grape varieties and reflecting the terroir of Alsace should be produced and protected. In 1976, together with five other producers, he finally obtained official recognition for Crémant d'Alsace as an AOC.

2014 was characterised by a very early spring, which resulted in an early start to the growing cycle. The weather was warm and dry during the late spring and early summer, however wet and mild weather during the latter parts of the summer slowed down the vine’s development. A warm and dry September enabled the grapes to reach maturity. The wines are fresh and crisp with beautiful balance.

Schoenenbourg means beautiful hill and is one of the most prestigious Grand Cru classified vineyards in Alsace. Located North of Riquewihr, the vineyard runs along the rather steep south and south-eastern flanks of the hillside, at an altitude of 265 to 380 metres above sea-level. The Dopff au Moulin Schoenenbourg vineyard covers 8.8 hectares. The vines are grown in water-retaining subsoils of keuper marl, dolomite and gypsum, which are rich in fertilising agents, overlaid with fine layers of quaternary siliceous gravel, Vosges sandstone and muschelkalk (shellbearing limestone). Pruned according to the Guyot method with green harvests and meticulous canopy management to ensure good light penetration and air flow.

Whole bunches were gently pneumatically pressed without crushing. Static racking of the must was followed by a slow, temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel, preserving the purity of fruit. After the fermentation, the wine was stored in old oak casks on its fine lees for several months, adding subtle complexity. 

100% Riesling.

An elegant and expressive wine delivering notes of passion fruit, grapefruit and pineapple enveloped in a rich, full-bodied and harmonious palate. Candied citrus flavours and a zippy acidity lead to a long finish.

This wine is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Awarded a Platinum Medal, 98 points and Best in Show Status at the 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards (click link for details.)

For other 2018 DWWA winners, click here.

The Dopff family have been winegrowers since 1574 and still manage the 70 hectare estate near the charming medieval town of Riquewihr.The vineyards are more than 300 metres above sea level, nestled in the foothills of the lower Vosges, sheltered from the northerly winds and the rain from the west. The southerly exposure of the vineyards and favourable microclimate lend themselves to the art of producing excellent wine. As a family of pioneers, they were responsilble for the use of the stemmed wine bottles, which today distinguish Alsace wines from other regions. In 1900, tenth generation, Julien Dopff, was so impressed by the Champagne tastings held in Paris' World Exhibition, he decided to learn the art of winemaking in Champagne for 2 years before returning to Alsace. In 1976, together with 5 other producers, he was instrumental in obtaining official recognition for Crémant d'Alsace as an AOC.

2015 was a superb vintage, with warm and dry weather throughout the summer period, resulting in good berry maturation and flavour concentration. Yields were lower than average, but quality was excellent resulting in wines with excellent varietal characteristics and ageing potential.

The Grand Cru classified vineyard of Brand overlooks the town of Turckheim and reaches an altitude of 343 metres above sea level. The wines of the Brand vineyard have been highly reputed since the 14th century, covering 58 hectares, of which Dopff au Moulin owns 3.2 hectares. The vineyard faces South and South-East and features very steep slopes. The soil consists of "Turckheim granite" with black and white micas, which is characterised by a low water retention capacity. The steep slopes combined with the granite soils, contribute to the rapid warming of the soil, which helps to encourage the vine to mature. The vines are trained to a Guyot system with green harvest and meticulous canopy management to ensure good light penetration and air flow to the berries. Yields are low at 26 hectolitres per hectare. Winemaking The grapes were manually harvested at 107° Oechsle. Gentle pneumatic pressing took place in whole bunches without crushing the grapes. A static racking of the must was followed by a slow temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel. The wine was stored in old oak casks on the fine lees for several months. 

A lovely expression of (100%) Gewurztraminer. Expressive notes of honey, spice and candied fruits lead to a refreshing and beautifully balanced palate. This full bodied and rich wine has great finesse. This wine is distinctly off-dry in the Grand Cru Gewurztraminer tradition (the 2015 vintage has a residual sugar level of 18g/litre).

The Dopff family have been winegrowers since 1574 and still manage the 70 hectare estate near the charming medieval town of Riquewihr.The vineyards are more than 300 metres above sea level, nestled in the foothills of the lower Vosges, sheltered from the northerly winds and the rain from the west. The southerly exposure of the vineyards and favourable microclimate lend themselves to the art of producing excellent wine. As a family of pioneers, they were responsilble for the use of the stemmed wine bottles, which today distinguish Alsace wines from other regions. In 1900, tenth generation, Julien Dopff, was so impressed by the Champagne tastings held in Paris' World Exhibition, he decided to learn the art of winemaking in Champagne for 2 years before returning to Alsace. Initially, the Dopff family bought juice in barrels from Champagne, blended, processed and aged the wines in Ricquewihr. However, after WW II Julien Dopff strongly believed that a Crémant made from local grape varieties and reflecting the terroir of Alsace should be produced and protected. In 1976, together with 5 other producers, he finally obtained official recognition for Crémant d'Alsace as an AOC.

The vines are pruned according to the Guyot system, with a green harvest and meticulous canopy management to ensure good light penetration and air flow. The vineyards are made up of sandy clay soils with good drainage.

The grapes were harvested at optimum maturity and carefully selected. The grapes were whole bunch pressed, prior to a static settling process. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, maintaining the purity of fruit and the varietal characteristics of Gewürztraminer.

A classic nose of rose petal, jasmine and exotic fruits carries into an elegant, off-dry wine with notes of candied fruit and spices.

The Dopff family has been winegrowers since 1574 and still manage the 70 hectare estate near the charming medieval town of Riquewihr. The vineyards are more than 300 metres above sea level, nestled in the foothills of the lower Vosges. As a family of pioneers, they were responsible for the use of the stemmed wine bottles, which today distinguish Alsace wines from other regions. In 1900, tenth generation Julien Dopff was so impressed by the Champagne tastings held in Paris' World Exhibition, he learnt the art of winemaking in Champagne for two years before returning to Alsace. After WW II Julien Dopff strongly believed that a Crémant made from local grape varieties and reflecting the terroir of Alsace should be produced and protected. In 1976, together with five other producers, he finally obtained official recognition for Crémant d'Alsace as an AOC.

2017 was characterised as being an early vintage, of high quality but low yields. Mild weather in February and March was followed by a severe frost at the end of April, with snow falling above 700 metres altitude. A hot and exceptionally sunny May ensured that flowering started in early June. The summer months saw peaks of pleasant, sunny weather, but a distinct lack of rainfall. September was cooler and harvest took place in good conditions, although the spring frost and summer drought resulted in reduced yields

The vines are trained according to the Guyot system. Green harvests in conjunction with strict canopy management, ensure good light penetration and ventilation for the berries during the ripening period. The soils in the vineyard are warm and volcanic with the presence of granite. The grapes are manually harvested once they have reached optimum maturity.

100% Pinot Gris.

The grapes were carefully selected and pressed in whole bunches. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures to optimise the varietal expression and purity of fruit flavours.

A rich, fruity nose is complemented by distinctive smoky notes very typical of the varietal, dried apricots, honey and gingerbread. Opulent and full on the palate, this dry white is beautifully textured and balanced, with lively roundness and a long, harmonious finish. Serving Suggestion Partners well with white meats such as chicken or veal with creamy sauces, game pâtés or rich game birds such as guinea fowl.

This is a magnificent Gewurtztraminer from the hill at Bergheim which faces South.  This Grand Cru's nose is both floral and spicy with notes of rosewater papaya and kumquat. It exhibits both great power and finesse with ripe tropical flavours including mango, lychee and passion fruit. It is full bodied and dense in flavour.

An exuberant wine with a spicy character, this Gewurztraminer reveals the typical aromas and flavours of the grape variety as well as notes of fresh lychee, mango and passion fruit. Its mouth-feel is fresh yet full and almost silky, whilst it displays exotic and spicy aromas such as mixed white pepper.

A deep and expressive nose filled with fresh and complex citrus aromas. It has surprisingly rich and fat palate with great structure and a wonderfully dry, long finish. This will go well with seafood, fish, white meats, trout, chicken and white wine sauce and cheese.

Earning a listing for one of your wines at a Michelin-starred restaurant is a proud moment – so what must it be like to be featured by every single three Michelin-starred restaurant in France (that’s 27 in total)? It’s an accolade that reflects the historic excellence and purist vision of F. E. Trimbach, unquestionably one of the great names of Alsace and a family business that can trace its origins all the way back to 1626. Thirteen generations later, brothers Bernard and Hubert, plus Bernard’s sons, Pierre and Jean, and granddaughter Anne – remain true to the philosophy handed down to them by their 19th century ancestor, Frédéric Emile (the man who put the “F.E.” into F. E. Trimbach).

Gewurtztraminer is the fruitiest and the spiciest of the varietals that Trimbach use – it is a unique wine. In Alsace this grape variety has the potential (this is almost always achieved) to reach the height of perfection.

Its dry personality makes it ideal as an aperitif and it pairs extremely well with specialty cuisine with pronounced flavors. Gewurztraminer is a fine accompaniment for fish or seasoned meats, spicy and exotic dishes, soft cheeses (such as the famous Munster), and a plethora of desserts.