Boeckel Zotzenberg Grand Cru Riesling 2018

34.00

Description

The Zotzenberg lieu-dit is located in the village of Mittelbergheim, a Grand Cru vineyard with a south-eastern exposure and a distinctive limestone-dominant soil that retains moisture and resists drought. The Riesling vines here are over 60 years old, certified organic, and produce a long-ageing wine of great depth and finesse. Grapes are harvested by hand and allowed to settle on the lees, with a slow, temperature-controlled fermentation prior to gentle filtering, and maturation in century-old oak casks.

Bright gold in colour with a punchy, aromatic and distinctive nose, stone fruits, freshly cut lime and candied orange peel to the fore and hints of musk, rose petals and honey. The palate is rich and nuanced, a steely frame and lush minerality supports layers of flavour development, with a complex citrus and spice finish that lasts for ages.

Serve this up with lobster in butter sauce or roast goose, sensational.

  • Rich, minerally, complex
  • 750ml
  • 13% Alcohol
  • Cork
  • Drink by 2030
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Producer: Maison Boeckel

We knew we were approaching something special as we caught a first view of Mittelbergheim in northern Alsace, a couple of church spires and a mosaic of steeply pitched, reddy-brown tiled rooves, perched above an undulating tapestry of lush green vineyards. A member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the most beautiful villages of France association), the village and many of its family wineries escaped unscathed from two World Wars, quite a feat when you consider its frontier location and proximity to the German border.

One of most impressive of these surviving wineries is Maison Boeckel, 5th generation growers and winemakers since Frédéric Boeckel founded the winery in 1853, and today managed by brothers Jean-Daniel and Thomas Boeckel. 24 hectares have been fully converted to organic viticulture in the last decade and the family holdings include a proportion of the prized Zotzenberg Grand Cru vineyards, considered one of the finest in Alsace and the only place Sylvaner can be bestowed Grand Cru status.

The history is etched out of stone in the cellars beneath the winery and family home, a labyrinth of dimly lit rooms and caves, housing tanks, barrels and some very old bottles, modern state of the art stainless steel starkly contrasting with black mould-covered walls and ceilings carved out by hand a century prior. These are long ageing wines, from storied vineyards and a long line of dedicated growers, makers and consumers. "I feel extremely lucky", said Jean-Daniel, "We get to grow the greatest varietals in the world here. I absolutely love Riesling, I enjoy a glass every single day."

More Maison Boeckel Wines →

95 Points
Wine Enthusiast (2016 vintage)
95 Points
Wine Enthusiast (2015 vintage)

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