Weinbach Alsace Grand Cru Schlossberg Riesling 2021

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.