Lot presentation

Gewurztraminer Sélection de Grains Nobles Weinbach (Domaine) 1983

The wine

Producing a Gewürztraminer Selections de Grains Nobles is no mean feat, requiring the rare star-alignment of an exceptional terroir, old vines, morning fog, optimum sunshine and perfectly ripe fruit. These conditions are particularly conducive to the growth of so-called noble rot (Botrytis Cinerea) and it is these “rotten” grapes which are painstakingly picked one-by-one as they reach maturation, before undergoing an equally meticulous vinification. Offering a rich and complex bouquet of overripe fruit, aromas of honey and peach emerge on the palate with distinguished spiced finish; a character which earns these wines their reputation as some of the best dessert wines in the world with virtually unlimited ageing potential.

About the Producer Weinbach

One of the most beautiful properties in Alsace, the Weinbach vineyard covers just over 26 hectares. The Capuchin monks produced a wine from the early 17th century on the historic terroir of the Clos des Capucins (5 hectares enclosed by walls). Sold as a national asset in the French Revolution, the property was acquired in 1898 by the Faller brothers, who passed it on to their son and nephew, Théo. A major figure in French viticulture and an ardent defender of Alsace's vineyards, largely responsible for their being granted AOC status, Théo Faller died in 1979. His wife Colette and her daughters Catherine and Laurence took charge of the property and continued to build its reputation; it is now known all over the world. Located at the base of the majestic Schlossberg hill, it benefits from an exceptional position that has all of the geological and climate characteristics usually associated with Alsace's finest wines. The vineyard is tended with a deep respect for nature and with a view to expressing each terroir. The harvests are delayed until optimal ripeness; after rigorous selection the grapes are gently, progressively pressed, followed by long fermentations in old oak casks. The property produces successful generic cuvées, but really stands out for its grandes cuvées, named after members of the family, and associated with each terroir.

Detailed characteristics