This small, bright green/golden-yellow berry with a thick skin, produces incredible Riesling character from the first bite into the grape with an explosion of delicate and aromatic flavours. Carefully crafted by Charles & Amelie Sparr, these grapes are spun into elegant and aromatic wines perfect for the table.
Golden representations of the region, stepping away from the historic traditions, are the two Grand Cru cuvees of Brand and Schoenenbourg. Ethereal with a bone-dry palate, the Schoenenbourg 2017 is an aged Riesling of great poise and complexity ready for exploring. Brand is more cool, calm and collected with a lemon style edge to complete the profile. With holdings in Hengst, Brand, Mambourg, Furstentum, Sporen and Schoenenbourg Grand Crus and in the Altenbourg and Rosenberg lieux-dits, there is nothing holding this young couple back from exploring the true depth and diversity of the Alsace terroir. With their strong ambitions to present a new era of Riesling & Pinot Noir in the region, this is where it begins, do not delay in joining in on this journey.
Alongside the Riesling offering today I would like to highlight a fun and vibrant Pinot Blanc by the estate which characterises a more supple and ripe terroir of Alsace. The Pensee 2021 is a lively wine made from vines in Sigolsheim and carefully pressed to release ripe fruit juices of excellent harmony.
Please enjoy this range of Rieslings & Pinot Blanc for the Summer season.
Tasting Notes
PINOT BLANC "PENSEE" 2021
A ripe pinot blanc with stacks of orange and melon. The moderately dry tannins and lively acidity neatly balancing the ripeness. Excellent harmony at the long finish. 100% pinot blanc from two parcels, one on clay and one on granite. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. 91pts - James Suckling.
RIESLING "ALTENBOURG" 2020
Deep and concentrated, with ample stone and citrus aromas, the mirabelle aroma as intense as that of Amalfi lemon. Quite an austere style, but with all this ripeness to balance the firm structure that’s no problem. Intense herbal and chalky character at the very focused finish. Still very young, this should develop magnificently with a bit more bottle age. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. 93 points, James Suckling.
RIESLING GRAND CRU "BRAND LÉGENDE" 2020
Such an elegant wine for this Grand Cru that tends towards aromatic richness, the pineapple and basil notes very delicate on the nose. On the medium-to full-bodied palate there’s more succulence, but even there the crushed-stone minerality keeps everything very cool and straight. Very long, focused finish with so great vitality and very fine tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. 95 points, James Suckling.
This 2020 has an intriguing nose that unites ripe, fragrant peach with the beguiling scent of wild strawberries. There is a beautiful aromatic quality. The palate is precise, cool, focused and brimming with lemon. A slight dried lemon peel edge channels its undoubted energy. The bone-dry finish is totally mouth-watering and comes with much drive. 94 points, Anne Krebiehl, Vinous.
RIESLING GRAND CRU "SCHOENENBOURG RÉVELATION" 2017
So much candied citrus, angelica, dried sage and thyme in the nose! However, this compact and highly structured Alsace Grand Cru dry riesling is still very youthful and really needs a lot of aeration (decanting and big glasses!) to open it up. Stunning complexity of fruit, herbal and mineral character at the imposing yet very cool finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. 95 points, James Suckling.
The 2017 Riesling Schoenenbourg Gd Cru is the first wine Charles Sparr vinified in his own style of this site. The nose displays a flicker of smoke at first, followed by ethereal hayflower and candied peach. The bone-dry palate with just 0.1g/L of residual sweetness channels stony, chalky depth with an almost waxy texture. Dried lemon peel serenity makes the mouth water and expresses coolness, poise and depth. Wonderful. 95 points, Anne Krebiehl, Vinous.