Domaine Barmès-Buecher : Riesling Grand cru "Hengst" 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Riesling Grand Cru "Hengst" 2024 from Domaine Barmès-Buecher

Tasting Notes

Appearance
The colour reveals a bright, pale yellow hue, enhanced by elegant golden and greenish highlights that reflect its fine concentration.

Nose
Intensely aromatic, the nose reveals great complexity. It opens with notes of ripe fruit such as pineapple and green apple, mingled with candied citrus like kumquat. On aeration, subtle hints of white flowers, honey, saffron and white pepper emerge, all wrapped in a deep minerality reminiscent of gunflint.

Palate
The lively, incisive attack gives way to a full, structured and beautifully rounded mid-palate. The texture, almost creamy, is perfectly balanced by a vibrant chalky tension. The finish, remarkably pure and long, stands out for its savoury character, its thirst-quenching salinity and its noble bitterness.

Food and Wine Pairing

This great dry white wine pairs beautifully with fine fish, such as turbot in a salt crust or scallops pan-seared in citrus butter. It also enhances a saffron risotto, white meats in creamy sauce, or characterful cheeses such as a well-aged Munster.

Serving and Cellaring

To fully appreciate the complexity of the Riesling Grand Cru "Hengst" 2024, it is recommended to decant it and serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. Built to age, this wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to develop in the cellar until around 2044.

Domaine Barmès-Buecher's Biodynamic Expression of a Great Alsatian Terroir

The Estate

Founded in 1985 by Geneviève Buecher and François Barmès, Domaine Barmès-Buecher is an essential reference in Alsace. Located in Wettolsheim, this 18-hectare family estate quickly distinguished itself through its pioneering approach to biodynamics, certified in the early 2000s. Today, the estate is run by Geneviève Barmès, President, alongside her children Sophie Barmès-Blanquart and Maxime Barmès, Managing Directors. Together, they uphold a demanding philosophy centred on listening to nature and showcasing exceptional terroirs to craft wines of great sincerity.

The Vineyard

The terroir of the Hengst grand cru, located in the commune of Wintzenheim in Alsace, stands out for its south to south-east exposure and its slope, which promotes excellent drainage. The plot dedicated to this cuvée covers 0.52 hectares and rests on deep marl-limestone soils, rich in Oligocene conglomerates and stones. The vines, around forty years old, are cultivated according to strict biodynamic principles, in harmony with the lunar cycles, allowing for deep rooting and an authentic mineral expression.

The Vintage

The year 2024 offered climatic conditions that allowed optimal ripeness to be reached while preserving fine freshness. This vintage proves particularly opulent, calling for a late manual harvest, carried out in early October, to ensure a perfect balance between aromatic richness and tension.

Winemaking and Ageing

The winemaking of the Riesling Grand Cru "Hengst" 2024 takes place naturally, with spontaneous fermentations triggered by indigenous yeasts, without any oenological additives. The wine then undergoes an extended ageing period of 16 months on full lees in large oak vats and barrels. This patient cellaring gives it its full-bodied texture, stability and aromatic complexity.

Grape Variety

100% Riesling