2015 Paul Blanck Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg

Paul Blanck

France / Alsace / Paul Blanck

An exceptional vineyard. At 200-300m, the Schlossberg slope lies on the Kaysersberg migmatites and the intruding granite of Thannenkirch, whose arenaceous character provides very fertile, mineral soil, composed both of coarse sand and clay.
The variety of minerals (potassium, magnesium, fluorine, phosphorus) determines the finesse and aromatic complexity of its wines. Schlossberg slopes so steeply that vines are grown on terraces.
The juice is extracted with infinite care in an air-bag press. The slow, gentle pressing avoids crushing the stalks and pips. The must starts fermenting of its own accord thanks to the natural yeast present in the juice, and the fermentation generally lasts from four to 10 weeks. It is carried out in stainless-steel vats equipped with temperature control, a medium which maximises the expression of this variety's aromas.

March, 2018

Stephan Reinhardt

The Wine Advocate

93 Points

Sourced from different plots and terroirs, the 2015 Riesling Schlossberg opens with a clear, deep, ripe and intense bouquet with floral and flinty aromas. Full-bodied and highly elegant on the palate, this is an enormously complex, rich and persistent Riesling with the generous and almost hedonistic finish of an intellectual wine. Impressive!

April, 2019

Mike Bennie

The Wine Front

94 points

Honey, brioche, halva scents with some fresh floral notes and citrus backing it up. Palate has generosity and good flow, rich honey on apple flavours, tart acidity underlying, concentration, a sweet tonic water tang to close. Good flavours. Good power. Good example.

August, 2019

James Suckling

jamessuckling.com

92 points

White wet stones, fresh citrus, green apples, cinnamon, parsley and green paprika. The acidity is very on point and does well to complement the candied-apple notes on the palate. Drink now.

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About Paul Blanck

Blanck may be a new name for CellarHand but that’s certainly not the case in Alsace. It’s getting on for 200 years since the family established a wine business in Kientzheim. For the past 30 years, cousins Frédéric and Philippe Blanck have been in control, placing a sharp focus on the vines and the soil they grow in. The domaine has increased its holdings from 24 to 36 hectares, with five grands crus accounting for more than a third. Sometimes the brilliance of Alsace – its terroir and the spice, minerals, freshness and sweet fruit it delivers – gets overlooked by the wine-drinking world. There’s little chance of that happening with the Blancks around, and we’re very happy to be the ones to help them share it.

About

Along with his cousin, Philippe Blanck, Freddie took over the estate operation in 1985, with a mission to create wines of pure pleasure for winelovers the world over. From the word go they have worked tirelessly to respect the vines and soil upon which they are planted. As they put it, “We wish to share with everyone the force and diversity of the Alsace ; the richness of the grape varieties and the joie de vivre of its people.”