Tasting Notes
Biodynamic. The Schlossberg hill has long been revered as one of the world’s most outstanding Riesling vineyards. It’s a granitic outcrop that rises north of Kaysersberg and Kientzheim to an altitude of 230-350 metres. The quality of Schlossberg’s wines was established as early as the 15th century, and this was the first vineyard in Alsace to receive Grand Cru status in 1975. With their eight hectares, the Faller family are the largest landowners in Schlossberg. They craft an extraordinary series of Rieslings from the hill, parcellated and bottled according to vine age and altitude.
This wine was cropped from three of the family’s highest parcels of vines at the top of the slope (between 320 and 420m elevation). Here, the soils are shallow and rocky and, therefore, very mineral—with the eroded granite having a reddish tinge and high magnesium content. This combination of altitude, low-vigour soils and low yields is potent and gifts a deep but always very dry and mineral Riesling with an intense freshness to balance the wine’s flesh. The 2021 was raised in large old casks for 15 months.
A hint of smoke dissipates to reveal precise, bell-clear flavours of citrus and stone fruits, with a glimmer of wet stone. The pulpy texture is pin-point, ripe, coiled, and driven by penetrating citrus freshness and powerful mineral zeal that allows the fruit to dance on the tongue. This nerveball has length for days. It offers both power and the indescribable elegance of the finest Riesling. - Importer Note
In spite of recent tragedies – the heartbreakingly premature loss of Laurence Faller and then, more recently, the passing of Weinbach’s legendary matriarch, Colette Faller – the quality of wine that has made Weinbach an icon shows no sign of budging an inch. The attention to detail that the Domaine applies to every one of its (many) cuvées still holds a mirror up to the whole of Alsace, bar, of course, a handful of notable addresses. In Laurence Faller’s stead, the ultra-traditional winemaking here – read whole cluster pressing, wild ferments and vinification in ancient, colossal old casks – is now the responsibility of experienced maître di chai, Ghislain Berthiot, while Catherine Faller’s son, vigneron Théo Leiber-Faller, has clearly inherited the Faller passion for the vines, and for biodynamic viticulture. Then, of course, there are the vineyards - some of the most magnificent in Alsace.
Domaine Weinbach farms 27 hectares of vineyards, predominantly Grand Cru. The most famous terroir is the majestic Schlossberg hill, closely followed by the walled Clos de Capucins; a Weinbach fiefdom that lies around the house and its cellars. But we should not forget the majestic Furstentum Grand Cru which, in the gifted hands of the Faller family, produces some of the world’s most profound Gewürztraminer. The Fallers have farmed organically for some time; however, in the late 1990’s they began the conversion towards biodynamics, a move which was complete in time for the 2005 vintage. Although we started our relationship with the 2006 vintage, we are long time followers of the Domaine. Since bio conversion, we’ve noted a rise in minerality and freshness in the wines, alongside a higher clarity and depth of fruit. The wines have more body, tone and shape too. We like to think you can taste the strength and passion of the new Faller generation. Quality is still the key, but the wines are somehow more pristine, with brilliant intensity. They glow with life on the palate, as if they have been lit from the back. - Importer Note
| Product Type | Wine White Riesling |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Alsace |
| Sub Region | Schlossberg |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |