Riesling Brand Grand Cru 2022 Trimbach

Tasting Note Riesling Brand Grand Cru 2022

On the nose, you'll detect lime zest, crushed stone, and subtle smoky notes. On the palate, it's bone-dry, and the 2022 vintage exhibits concentration rather than sharp acidity. Its robust structure stems as much from its phenolic texture as from its acidity. The long finish carries a hint of saltiness. It is ready to drink upon release, and the mineral notes become even more pronounced when exposed to air in the glass.

Grape Varieties

Trimbach bottles single-varietal wines; the only exception in the house lineup is Pinot Blanc, which is blended with Auxerrois. Therefore, Riesling Brand Grand Cru 2022 contains the following:

Riesling, the sole grape variety

Thanks to the old vines and the dry conditions of the 2022 vintage, the acidity is softer than in the 2021 vintage, but the wine has gained additional concentration. This is precisely why texture, rather than acidity, is the defining element of this wine.

Cellaring Potential

While it can be enjoyed immediately upon release, the phenolic texture of this Riesling Brand Grand Cru makes it suitable for extended aging. It is best enjoyed between 2026 and 2045. Serve at 12-14°C, as serving it too cold will diminish the mineral notes. Store the bottles on their sides in a cool, dark place.

About Trimbach

Dry is the rule at Trimbach. Nearly everything, from a simple Pinot Blanc to a Grand Cru Riesling, is vinified bone dry, and only the sweet wines break that pattern. The family has been working from Ribeauvillé in Alsace for 13 generations, and Julien is currently the sole winemaker. Riesling accounts for about half of production, with Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sylvaner and Muscat filling out five ranges of different wines that run from everyday bottles to Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles. Just over 60 hectares are owned outright, all certified organic since 2023, as are the grapes from 35 partner growers. Vines sit along the Ribeauvillé fault, a mosaic of limestone, marl (limestone mixed with clay), sandstone and migmatite. And then there is Clos Ste Hune, 1.67 walled hectares in Hunawihr.

Terroir & Climate

The Alsace Grand Cru classification is limited exclusively to four noble varieties, including Riesling. Trimbach's Grand Cru vines are situated on the sub-Vosges hillsides facing south, southeast, and southwest, growing in well-drained, nutrient-poor soil. Geologically, this area features a mosaic-like structure: Muschelkalk shell limestone, marl (clay-mixed limestone), Vosges sandstone, and migmatite, a mixture of gneiss and granite, coexist here. Furthermore, since the Vosges blocks the rain blowing in from the west, the grapes can ripen fully without the wine becoming overly heavy.

Winemaking

Here, grapes from each plot are fermented separately, and Riesling Brand Grand Cru does not undergo malolactic fermentation, the process that converts sharp malic acid into mild lactic acid. This is one of the main reasons why this wine has such a robust flavor. Aging takes place on the fermentation lees for several weeks, followed by several months on the fine lees; this period is determined by tasting rather than by the calendar. Filtration is performed using a tangential flow method with ceramic filters. Since the wine is not cold-stabilized, tartrate crystals may appear. These are harmless.

Food Pairing

Alsace dishes are famous for blending hearty French culinary techinques with rich German comfort-food traditions. Which pair nicely with the natural acidity from the Alsace Riesling as it cuts through heavy fats, while its fruit and clean minerality balance salty and fermented ingredients.