Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg De Bergheim Organic 2018

RIESLING GRAND CRU
Alsazia Appellation d'origine contrôlée
GRAPE VARIETY
RIESLING 100%
TASTING NOTES
This wine is made from 100% Riesling grapes from the classified Grand Cru site of the Altenberg Vineyard in Bergheim, which has been owned by Gustave Lorentz for 7 generations. The dominant soil in this area is clay and limestone. The vines from which this wine is made are very old, between 30 and 50 years old, and since 2012 have been completely organically cultivated. The pride of the Bergheim winegrowers, Altenberg has been renowned for its fine wines since the end of the 13th century. The Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim 2018 is a complex wine with great body and concentration, characterised by aromas of citrus fruits, hints of flint and white pepper. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated and refined, the textural complexity is as impressive as the aromas of Amalfi lemon, tarragon and sage. The finish is long and seriously structured. It is an expressive and harmonious wine that encompasses all the knowledge and experience of Gustave Lorentz and has excellent ageing potential. This wine will age at least 10 to 15 years in a classic vintage and 20 to 30 years in an exceptional vintage. There is no doubt that the 2018 vintage will go down in history, both in terms of the unusual climatic conditions that characterised it and the course and quality of the harvest. In the first seven months of the year, rainfall was intense and continuous, and the volume of rain that fell was equal to that of an entire year. In contrast, summer 2018 was the hottest and driest summer in the last 200 years. As a result, the vines faced the summer with an abundance of leaf cover, which prevented the bunches from burning, and an unparalleled water reserve in the soil, which enabled them to get through the summer without experiencing any water stress. The result was a healthy, perfectly ripe grape with lower acidity, lots of aromas and an enviable dry extract.