Domaine Weinbach : Riesling Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2024

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Riesling Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2024 Domaine Weinbach

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a bright pale yellow hue verging on straw, enhanced by brilliant highlights.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with citrus notes such as grapefruit, lemon and lime, accompanied by touches of white peach. Floral scents of honeysuckle and orange blossom intertwine with subtle mineral nuances evoking wet chalk and cold smoke.

Palate
The palate stands out with a racy acidity and a pronounced mineral backbone, offering great elegance. Citrus and tropical fruit flavours unfold with precision, leading to a lingering, elongated finish dominated by a chalky minerality.

Food and wine pairing

This white wine pairs wonderfully with fresh seafood such as oysters or sushi, as well as with delicate white fish enhanced with a citrusy touch. It also goes very well with lightly spiced Asian cuisine, or with traditional Alsatian specialities such as choucroute garnie and terrines.

Other characteristics

This wine has a moderate alcohol content of between 12 and 13%, along with a slight sweetness with residual sugars estimated between 2 and 4 grams per litre.

The mineral precision of a white wine from Alsace by Domaine Weinbach

The estate

Located in Kientzheim in Alsace, France, Domaine Weinbach was founded in 1612 by Capuchin monks before being acquired by the Faller family in 1898. Today, the estate is run by Catherine Faller, supported by her sons Eddy and Théo. This historic estate oversees a vineyard of approximately 38 hectares spread across prestigious terroirs. A pioneer in its environmental approach, the estate stands out for its fully certified biodynamic viticulture since 2005, aiming to express the purest authenticity of its soils through high-quality wines.

The vineyard

The grapes come from Grand Cru Furstentum, a renowned terroir in Alsace. This hillside vineyard, facing due south, reaches an altitude ranging between 300 and 400 metres with steep slopes of up to 37%. The soils are composed of marl, limestone and sandstone, creating a warm Mediterranean microclimate. The estate carefully cultivates about four to five hectares of vines here, favouring optimal sunlight exposure and excellent drainage for the ripening of the berries.

The vintage

The year 2024 was marked by particularly demanding weather conditions, with persistent and relentless spring rainfall, especially during the month of May. This climate required constant attention in the vineyards to support the growing cycle and ensure the proper development of the fruit through to harvest.

Winemaking and aging

To craft this Riesling Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2024, the hand-harvested berries undergo gentle whole-bunch pressing. Fermentation starts spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts in very old large-capacity oak foudres, lasting four to ten weeks. The wine then benefits from an extended aging period on fine lees for twelve to fifteen months. Bottling takes place without any fining or filtration, followed by further aging in the cellar.

Grape variety

100% Riesling.