Grand Cru Riesling, from the Bottom of the Box
When Sébastien placed our order with Thomas Baur last month, he made sure to ask him about a particular wine that we had tasted together this past year. It was his Grand Cru Riesling, from a plot in the middle of the celebrated Brand vineyard, one of just 51 Grand Cru sites in all of Alsace.
It might have been one of the most eye-widening wines of our week together driving up and down eastern France!
Riesling is a tricky beast, and can disappoint from time to time, but as with a great white Burgundy, can in some instances be astonishing. And this wine, well, this wine is astonishing. Vibrant, rich and layered, it's a magnificent example of the pinacle of Alsace Riesling. We once again requested whatever Thomas could spare us. And now, a mere 36 bottles are on the way to Oregon.
Baur Riesling Grand Cru Brand 'Clos de la Treille' 2022
The special details:
From a small parcel inside the Grand Cru Brand vineyard near Turckheim, planted on a unique mix of micah and schiste soils
Aged 10 months in a large, upright foudre that is more than 100 years old
Moderate alcohol of just 13%, and a bone-dry wine
Rich, honeyed, multi-layered, and exploding with classic Riesling aromas--apricot, orange peel, sea air
NO petrol aromas!
A Riesling to enjoy during its youth, but also to cellar for up 10-15 years if you have that kind of patience
We've definately 'lucked into' something with Baur. They seem like a winery that should be "taken" by some other importer somewhere, but lo and behold, they're not. So we keep running with it. I love Alsacienne wine, and I think wineries like Baur need more fans and disciples out there. There's truly something different that one could drink every night--old wine, young wine, dry wine, sweet wine, sparkling, some pretty decent reds--you name it.
This one might be the top of the mountain though. A rare treat for sure.
Bon weekend!
Dan