Albert Mann | Alsace | Riesling L’Épicentre, Schlossberg | 2009 | 375ml

Beschreibung

Product description for Albert Mann Riesling L’Épicentre, Schlossberg 2009

Christina Hilker: The 2009 Riesling Schlossberg “L’Epicentre” reflects the same complexity and minerality of the dry Rieslings from Schlossberg. Lime, citrus, and apricot notes mingle with a salty and stony minerality. This is accompanied by notes reminiscent of ripe pineapple, elderflower syrup, and blossom honey. The delicate sweetness of the 2009 Riesling Schlossberg “L’Epicentre” is accompanied by a stimulating acidity and a salty minerality. A dancing, light-footed sweet wine of the highest order!

Colour/Appearance

Bright, sparkling golden yellow, thickening towards the rim

Nose

The 2009 Riesling Schlossberg “L’Epicentre” reflects the same complexity and minerality of the dry Rieslings from Schlossberg. Lime, citrus notes, and apricots mingle with a salty note and a stony minerality. The whole is accompanied by notes reminiscent of ripe pineapple, elderflower syrup, and blossom honey.

Palate

The delicate sweetness of the 2009 Riesling Schlossberg “L’Epicentre” is accompanied by a stimulating acidity and a salty minerality. A dancing, light-footed sweet wine in a class of its own!

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Keywords: Albert Mann Riesling L’Épicentre, Schlossberg 2009 Alsace France

Wine Advocate

Score: 92

Due to its tiny volume, the Barthelmes elected not to register their 2009 Riesling Schlossberg L’Epicentre as Selection de Grains Nobles, although it is certainly that. (For more about what’s behind this cuvee, consult my coverage of the 2007 in issue 188.) This essence of only 10.5% alcohol is practically delicate and its combination of fresh lemon, lime, ginger and cinnamon makes for a juicy brightness and spicily tactile impingement such as one will seldom encounter from its vintage. For all of the wine’s high residual sugar, this remains succulent and bright through its vibrant, penetrating, persistently citric, spicy finish. One could wish for some floral or mineral dimensions, but this exercise in extreme concentration is certainly once again extremely impressive. _x000D_
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Although Maurice and Jacky Barthelme continued to pick their 2009 Rieslings into October and achieved satisfyingly ripe flavors, they did so without suffering high alcohol or unbalanced sweetness. Unsurprisingly (whether or not verifiably), they implicate the accumulated experience and effects of a biodynamic regimen in these results. Equally importantly, the levels of acidity in their 2009 Rieslings are ample and efficacious. With Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, they were forced to discharge high must weights in the form of almost universally high residual sugar, with attractive if seldom distinguished results. The Mann 2008s are characterized by particularly concentrated and positively efficacious acidity, all of the Rieslings weighing-in at what on paper might look like an excessive 9 grams or more. Not only have the Barthelme brothers been together now for 21 vintages – to me it still seems like yesterday that I “discovered” their 1988s – but they point out that most of their present crew has been together for nearly a decade, which is bound to have been instrumental in their having been able to repeatedly expand into new vineyards without sacrificing the highest standards, not to mention with their enthusiasm still youthful._x000D_
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Importer: Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800
David Schildknecht

Vinous

Score: 93

(10.5% alcohol, 133 g/l r.s. and 8 grams acidity; from vines in the center of this grand cru that were planted in 1942) Medium yellow. Tangy, rot-ennobled aromas of honey, apricot, peach nectar, spices and pepper. Fat and very sweet but with strong, harmonious acidity cutting through the wine’s honeyed thickness. At once opulent and gripping. Very concentrated, sexy wine, with a saline quality that reminded me of the 2008 vintage. The building, tactile finish leaves a dusty impression, along with a hint of marzipan.
— Stephen Tanzer
Drinking window:
Review date: Nov 2010

Producer website: https://www.albertmann.com/