Domaine Amelie & Charles Sparr Riesling Grand Cru Schoenenbourg 2021

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. Founded in 2013, from the union of the vineyards inherited from Amélie Buecher, the descendant of a long line of winemakers, and Charles Sparr, son of a family of wine merchants, the young Domaine Amelie & Charles Sparr produces a range of high-quality white and red wines. The vineyards, which include four Grand Crus, have been organically farmed since 2017 and biodynamically since 2019. The Riesling grapes come from a vineyard in the Grand Cru Schoenenbourg, one of the most prestigious sites in Alsace, located north of Riquewihr at around 380 meters above sea level. Here, the vines, around 60 years old, benefit from a microclimate particularly favorable to Riesling and a soil composed of a mix of chalk, Keuper marl, and dolomitic rock, and covered with small pebbles. In the glass, the wine reveals a pale golden color with bright reflections. Its aromatic profile is intense and complex with notes of peach, orange, melon, dried herbs, lemongrass, and jasmine on a slightly smoky background. On the palate, it is full-bodied and well-structured, complex and characterful. It is vigorous and broad, fleshy and persistent with a strong acidity and a long finish that recalls notes of verbena and lemon. Try it with chicken with herbs, oysters, or vegetable tarts.

Price: £25.50 from 8wines UK