The Top 10 French Grand Cru Wine Bottles

The primary Grand Cru in Alsace was the Schlossberg of Kaysersberg, a form of trial balloon for the class that started again in 1975. Since then, 50 extra Grands Crus have come into being. James Suckling takes a better have a look at the highest 10 Grand Cru wine bottles.

On the subject of French wines, the time period Grand Cru has a magical connotation. However simply how magical the title of a specific Grand Cru winery and the wines named after it actually rely enormously on the area. Each when it comes to repute and to your pockets, it makes an enormous distinction if a Grand Cru white wine is from Burgundy or Alsace.

Let me give just a few concrete examples. The world’s costliest dry white wine is the Montrachet Grand Cru from Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy, which Wine-Searcher costs at US$12,750 for the 2015 classic (the newest out there) and US$19,590 for the 2014. In distinction, even the most costly Grand Cru wines from Alsace are these from the Rangen Grand Cru website within the commune of Thann, produced by Domaine Zind Humbrecht, they usually lie at just below $100 for the 2019 classic. That’s a greater than a hundred-fold worth distinction.

The query is whether or not that worth distinction is mirrored within the wine high quality. For us, the reply is… not essentially. Certain, the very best Grand Cru dry whites from Burgundy are superb wines, and for sommeliers and collectors round Planet Wine, they continue to be the benchmark for the chardonnay grape. The Montrachet Grand Cru is an instance of how huge world demand for a really restricted manufacturing mixed with high-quality ends in stratospheric costs for sure Burgundian Grand Cru wine.

For Alsace, demand is nearly by no means as nice, however what about high quality? Not too long ago, we tasted the 2018 and 2019 vintages of the Rangen Grand Cru wines from Zind Humbrecht and rated them each bit as excessive as the very best Grand Cru whites of Burgundy. This example creates a golden alternative for savvy customers, and our Prime 10 is designed that can assist you profit from it.

There’s one other vital cause to take these wines significantly. Many customers marvel what the “mineral character” that sommeliers and wine critics typically speak about tastes like. Alsace Grand Cru is a perfect strategy to discover out.

The hashtag #alsacerocks is a advertising software for the area’s wines, however it matches, as a result of the very best Alsace Grand Cru have intense notes of flint, chalk, moist stones and dry earth. This, along with the mixture of generosity and freshness typical for Alsace whites, makes them a particular class.

“A real Grand Cru is a singularity of character with constantly top quality,” says Marie Zusslin, from Domaine Valentin Zusslin. “That’s why my thought is to point out the individuality of every website.” Her Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Pfingstberg 2017 is an impressive expression of this concept.

“Alsace has huge geological variety inside a small space, and every Grand Cru has its personal id,” Eric Kientzler of the Kientzler property in Ribeauville instructed me. “For instance, the wines from our three riesling Grand Crus are very completely different, although the Osterberg, Kirchberg de Ribeauville and Geisberg websites are neighbours.” With its mixture of class and minerality, his Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Kirchberg de Ribeauville 2018 is a perfect introduction to the Alsace Grand Cru class.

Alsace Grands Crus are practically at all times varietal whites, with the variability named on the label: gewurztraminer, muscat, pinot gris or riesling. Riesling is essentially the most profitable grape for Alsace Grand Cru out there as a result of these wines are at all times dry and their vivid acidity accentuates this.

For us the Domaine Weinbach Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Schlossberg Cuvée Ste Catherine is a near-perfect instance of an Alsace Grand Cru, combining mineral subtlety with nice focus and size.

Prime 10 Alsace Grand Cru Wines

These wines that exemplify the greatness of Alsace Grand Cru are all both presently out there or about to seem.

DOMAINE WEINBACH RIESLING ALSACE GRAND CRU SCHLOSSBERG CUVÉE STE CATHERINE 2019

Rating: 99

Enveloping, sensual bouquet of a thousand yellow fruits and a few wild berries that’s simply starting to disclose its profundity. Gigantic focus, however this stays as mild on its toes as a prima ballerina.

FAMILLE HUGEL RIESLING ALSACE SCHOELHAMMER 2010

Rating: 99

One of many world’s distinctive dry whites. That is so deep and spicy with a ton of candied citrus. Beautiful focus, energy and construction on the palate.

DOMAINE ZIND HUMBRECHT PINOT GRIS ALSACE GRAND CRU RANGEN DE THANN CLOS SAINT URBAIN 2019

Rating: 98

So spicy and smoky with a touch of mushroom, that is an enormously deep and concentrated dry pinot gris that’s simply starting to open up.

TRIMBACH RIESLING ALSACE GRAND CRU GEISBERG 2014

Rating: 98

Aromas of limestone and hints of earth. Moist-morning forest flooring. From the vineyards of the convent of Ribeauville, it’s been made individually since 2009. All organically farmed.

DOMAINE VALENTIN ZUSSLIN RIESLING GRAND CRU PFINGSTBERG 2017

Rating: 98

Grasp your nostril right into a glass of this astonishing dry white wine and let your self be swept away in a cloud of smoke. Then, once you’re inside it, the wine’s refined, citrusy magnificence will unfurl and also you’ll realise that it could solely be riesling.

DOMAINE MARCEL DEISS GRAND CRU SCHOENENBOURG 2017

Rating: 98

Tremendous contemporary for 3 years of age — the floral, honey and beeswax aromas are particularly engaging. 

DOMAINE PFISTER RIESLING ALSACE GRAND CRU ENGELBERG 2018

Rating: 97

A masterpiece of cool class, regardless of this being the warmest classic in residing reminiscence! Pristine with crystalline purity and a completely mineral persona.

MURÉ PINOT NOIR CLOS SAINT LANDELIN 2018

Rating: 96

The gorgeous stability of very nice tannins and delicate “sweetness“ that pervades the lengthy, super-silky end jogs my memory of Grand Cru Musigny from Burgundy. 

KIENTZLER RIESLING ALSACE GRAND CRU KIRCHBERG DE RIBEAUVILLÉ 2018

Rating: 95

A fancy and chic Grand Cru dry riesling with tons of wet-stone character, married to good lemon and contemporary herb aromas.

DIRLER-CADÉ GEWURZTRAMINER ALSACE GRAND CRU SAERING 2018

Rating: 94

Tons of spice and Turkish delight right here, but that is something however opulent. Highly effective and wealthy, but additionally minerally and correctly dry.

This story first appeared on Prestige Hong Kong.