Fernand Engel Riesling “Cuvée Engel”
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Harvested from three estate parcels that sit between Rorschwihr and Bergheim at an altitude of 220 meters. Clay percentage is unusually high (over 40%), and exposure is eastern on a modest slope.
Varietal Composition: 100% Riesling
Elaboration: Direct pneumatic pressing with whole bunch of grapes, cold settling of the must : 8-10°C, yeast addition, cool control during alcoholic fermentation about 18-20°C, air racking, ageing on lees about 6 to 8 months, late clarification (before bottling), very fine filtration before bottling.
Tasting Notes: Yellow with gold reflection. Very intense nose, beautiful evolution, between fruity presence, bush peach, pineapple, tangerine, mineral and floral. Very complex nose presenting buttered nuances, camphorated, mentholated, balsamic. Nice first sensation silky, then fresh and fruity on notes of pineapple, grapefruit and bush peach, very beautiful density, bitterness pointing out the citrus fruits peel, mentholated evolution, camphorated.
PRESS
2015 – 90 Wine Enthusiast
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
This renowned Domaine, France’s largest biodynamic estate, is situated in the village of Rorschwihr, north of the city of Colmar. The Domaine is a true family affair, being run by the third generation since 1998, with the second generation still at hand for guidance. The young Xavier Baril and wife Sandrine Engel have set the target high: Their aim is to become the best estate in all of Alsace.
The Domaine possesses 52 hectares of vineyard in 7 different communities and in 150 different plots – A true mosaic of terroirs! The results are remarkable: wines that glisten when it comes to pureness, elegance, finesse and balance. In the past several years vineyards have been acquired in Grands Crus; the Domaine now produces a Grand Cru Riesling in the Praelatenberg vineyard (Kintzheim), a Grand Cru Gewurztraminer in the Altenberg vineyard (Bergheim) and a Grand Cru Pinot Gris in the Gloeckelberg (Rodern and St. Hippolyte).