2010 Paul Blanck Riesling Rosenbourg

Paul Blanck

France / Alsace / Paul Blanck

The fruit comes from a parcel straddling Kientzheim and Riquewihr. Soils are granite and clay, west-facing.
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.
The wine is matured on its lees in large barrels for 6 to 9 months. This lees-contact contributes richness to the wine and allows a gentle oxidization of the wine, which gradually opens up its aromas.
The wine is then bottled and matured for one or two years before release. This bottle-ageing also plays a role in the wine's development.
The nose is highly aromatic, with almond flavours mixed with citrus. The palate shows almond, grapefruit, lemon sorbet and mineral characters typical of the Rosenbourg terroir.

October, 2014

Alison Napjus

Wine Spectator

90 points

A bright, svelte white, with a streak of minerality driving the subtle mesh of crunchy white peach, Meyer lemon, smoke and salted almond notes. A lacy texture shows on the finish. Drink now through 2020.

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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.”