Domaine Trimbach - Alsace Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile 2016

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Beautiful purity on the palate, elegant and straightforward, without harsh acidity, it is already ready to drink thanks to its pleasant white fruitiness and delicate citrus notes.

About the estate:

The Ribeauvillé estate is slowly evolving to keep pace with the times. After shifting its focus to grand cru wines, Trimbach is now converting to organic farming (certification expected in 2023). The process will involve its grape and wine suppliers. Riesling reigns supreme here (55% of production). The terroirs are ideal: marl-limestone (Geisberg, Mandelberg, Clos-Saint-Hune au Rosacker) or granite (Schlossberg, Brand). The Frédéric-Émile cuvée blends the Osterberg and Geisberg grands crus. The 2017 and 2019 vintages will go down in history.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

The 2016 Frédéric Emile Riesling reveals a clear, bright, and slightly flinty bouquet with citrus aromas and delicate intensity. Round and elegant on the palate, it is a powerful, intense, and complex cuvée with persistent salinity and remarkable phenolic structure. Although this Frédéric Emile is rather crystalline and delicate, it still needs time to show its best qualities. It has an alcohol content of 13.2% and contains nearly 2g of residual sugar per liter. Tasted at the estate in May 2022.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

A must-visit estate that stands proudly in the beautiful city of musicians, Trimbach delights wine lovers with its legendary Frédéric-Émile and Clos Sainte-Hune vintages. Depending on the vintage, Pierre Trimbach vinifies Riesling in a vertical style, always dry. His brother Jean manages sales worldwide. They are now supported by the new generation, Anne and Frédérique (Pierre's daughters) and Pauline and Julien (Jean's children). The family vinifies nearly 60 hectares of their own vineyards and around 100 hectares of purchased grapes. Certain grands crus have been claimed since 2009 and are allocated directly in small quantities by Jean Trimbach to the world's finest restaurants. The house undeniably contributes to the promotion of Alsace wines with internationally renowned vintages, while producing entry-level wines of consistent quality. The range of Pinot Noirs still has room for improvement.

Vinous

About wine:

Bright straw yellow. Complex, minty aromas of nectarine, mandarin, crushed stone, and a hint of licorice. The palate is bright, juicy, and dense, showing remarkable balance between acidity and sugar, with penetrating juice flavors of stone fruit and herbs. The finish is layered and very long, with remarkable clarity and a lemony character on the salty finish. Wine lovers around the world know how excellent Frédéric Emile's Rieslings can be, but this wine seems to be a real masterpiece in the making; I absolutely love the mineral strength and precision of this wine. It achieves the feat of being both very suitable for aging and very enjoyable to drink right now.

James Suckling

About wine:

The lemon sorbet note is truly magnificent here. This is followed by a multitude of herbs, ranging from thyme to parsley, with a touch of sea salt, before turning to more floral nuances, such as cherry and almond blossom. The powerful acidity seems to envelop the entire mouth and gives the impression of licking a lemon; the characteristic dryness is all the more pleasant. The finish is long and very elegant. Drink now.