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Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg

Put simply, Schlossberg is one of the greatest Riesling vineyards in the world; the quality of this very famous vineyard was well known as early as the fifteenth century. For this reason it was the first vineyard in Alsace to receive the status of Grand Cru in 1975. The Weinbach Domaine owns 8 hectares of this terroir. The second of the Fuller’s great terroirs is the monopole Clos de Capucins. Taking its name from the Capuchin friars who arrived here in 1619, the Clos is at the bottom of a slope, well protected from winds by the surrounding hills. Its soils consist of sand, alluvium, granite gravel and pebbles. Finally (as far as this offer is concerned anyway), the steep limestone and clay slope of the Grand Cru Furstenheim, is Valhalla for Gewürz. The wines from site tend to produce a more floral, spicy, savoury style than the obvious, simple, Turkish delight characteristics that dominate so many wines made by this grape variety. These are exhilaratingly fresh, complex and poised wines. 

In terms of vineyard and winemaking practice, the Fallers work as closely with nature as possible. Only organic compost is used and the high value placed on hand vineyard management means there is no recourse for anti fungal, or insecticides. The fruit is whole cluster pressed into ancient large foudres where it ferments on its indigenous yeasts. The ferments are lengthy, unhurried and the wine is untended until it is ready for bottling without fining.