Riesling Grand Cru Muenchberg 1996

Lot presentation

Riesling Grand Cru Muenchberg 1996

The wine

Fifty in number, Alsace's grands crus are a selection from the best vineyards, thus encouraging producers to try to extract the best from the best located terroirs. However, the classification is the subject of lively debate, as it excludes the monopoly vineyards (in particular the grandiose Clos Sainte Hune, Clos Windsbuhl and Clos des Capucins), and the famous Kaefferkopf vineyard in Ammerschwihr, often recognized as an authentic grand cru. To complicate matters, some of the appellation's best producers, such as Hugel and Trimbach, have refused to display the "Grand Cru" description on the label, despite the wine coming from Grand Cru classified vineyards. Riesling Grand Cru is a dry, distinguished, delicately fruity wine; the bouquet offers tremendous finesse, sometimes with mineral or floral notes. In its youth, this wine has scents of apples, citrus fruit and peaches. With age, it develops more honeyed notes of quince and minerals (fossils, flint). Recognized as one of the finest white grape varieties in the world, it produces superb, gastronomic wines.