Jean Biecher Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg

Product Description

The Biecher & Schaal winery has been created in 2011 as a result of a joint venture between Olivier Biecher & Julien Schaal. Both share the same passion fo great Grands Crus in Alsace. Olivier Biecher, owner of the eponymous wine negociant company, from a long time wanted to smell again the aromas of wine in is familly historic cellar. Julien Schaal became a winemaker as a result of passion – as opposed to family background. From his first vintage in Dorlisheim (Alsace) in 1999, he has apprenticed with a number of the world’s foremost winemakers for several years in Burgundy & Rhône valley but Also South Africa & Lebanon. Situated to the north of Riquewihr, the vineyard runs along the rather steep south and south-east flanksof the Schœnenbourg hillside, at an altitude of 265 to 380 metres. It covers an area of 53,40 ha, over a water retaining subsoil of Keuper, marl, dolomite and gypsum, rich in fertilising agents, overlaid with fine layers of quaternary siliceous gravel, Vosges sandstone and Muschelkalk, with at its eastern extremity outcrops of lias marl limestones. On the Schœnenbourg, Riesling is King. Schœnenbourg renowned ever since the early Middle Ages, the wines of the Schœnenbourg were famous throughout northern europe in the 16th century. the great Swiss cartographer, Merian, cited in 1663 : «The Schœnenbourg, which produces the most noble wine of this country». Voltaire owned several vineyards here. Schœnenbourg Grand Cru wines age particularly well, and in time develop powerful, rich aromas.

A deep, rich herby nose displays sweet, lime-edged fruit. There’s some smoky depth, and hints of honey. The palate is concentrated and full, with the medium sweet fruit framed by good acidity and a minerality.