REICHSTRAT VON BUHL Grosses Gewachs Pechstein Riesling

Within Kiedrich’s Gräfenberg Grand Cru lies a small 0.5-hectare parcel once known as the Gräfenberg-Lay. Sitting in one of the steepest portions of the vineyard, the Lay is located at the transition between Gräfenberg and Turmberg and is known for having the highest concentration of phyllite slate on the hill. The vines here are now between 40 and 60 years old. This site was originally purchased by Dr Robert Weil in the 19th century, using the dowry from his marriage to Emilie von Vacano (a descendant of the Vacano family in Lombardy). The wine from this parcel, called Monte Vacano (the Hill of Vacano) was always produced and bottled alone. It was used only for celebratory occasions and never released for sale. Following Weil's death in 1921, the tradition of Monte Vacano fell dormant, and the fruit was incorporated into a regular Gräfenberg bottling. Compared to the Gräfenberg GG, Monte Vacano trades power and richness for exceptional purity, elegance and detail. Resurrecting the old custom, 2021 marks the fourth Riesling in a century made solely from this special lieu-dit. It was harvested in October, and the grapes were whole bunch-pressed into two ancient refurbished Stückfässer (1,200-litre casks) where the wine fermented wild and spent almost two years on lees before bottling.

At the foot of the majestic Schlossberg hill, in a setting of vines and roses, the Domaine Weinbach "wine stream", named after the small stream that crosses it, was built in 1612 by the Capuchin monks. Sold as national property during the French Revolution, the Estate was acquired in 1898 by the Faller brothers who passed it on to their son and nephew Théo. A great figure in the Alsatian vineyard and ardent promoter of its recognition as an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, Théo Faller works for the quality of Alsace wines and the development of their incomparable terroirs and grape varieties. In love with his property, he develops it, enlarges it and embellishes it. From 1979, his wife Colette and his daughters Catherine and Laurence demonstrated the same passion for the great wines of Alsace and the same unfailing attachment to quality. Since 2016, Catherine Faller has been running the Domaine with her sons Eddy and Théo. Cuvée Théo Riesling comes exclusively from the monopole Le Clos des Capucins. The clos is well protected from winds by the surrounding hills and by the walls that enclose it. The soils consist of sand, alluvial pebbles and granitic gravel. Here, the low-cropping vines typically offer up a supple and pithy Riesling that is beautifully accessible when young - a reflection of these sandy soils. As per all Weinbach dry Rieslings, this was whole-bunch pressed, fermented without any yeast additions and matured in very old oak casks for 10 months. Biodynamic. It’s beautifully ripe yet crisp, with flawless clarity and vibrating citric freshness. Expect waves of crunchy citrus pith, florals and stone-fruit juiciness, excellent pulp and precision and driven compact length. Finishing on a mineral/umami note, this is a brilliant Riesling—arguably the most electric young Théo Riesling we have seen for some time. All class. Beautifully ripe yet crisp, with flawless clarity and vibrating citric freshness. Expect waves of crunchy citrus pith, florals and stone-fruit juiciness, excellent pulp and precision and driven compact length. Finishing on a mineral/umami note, this is a brilliant Riesling.