Frères Engel Riesling Grand Cru Praelatenberg 2020
DESCRIPTION
The Grand Cru Praelatenberg is the jewel of the estate. Situated at the top of the hill, where the gneiss bedrock outcrops at only 40cm, this terroir gives the Riesling a unique mineral signature. The 2020 vintage, sunny and warm, was perfectly managed thanks to moderate yields, allowing hydric stress to be avoided.
To sculpt this great aging wine, the Engel brothers opt for patience. After a long 8-hour pressing, the wine is aged in stainless steel tanks on its lees for 23 months. This long aging allows the structure to be refined, the power of the vintage to be integrated, and the complexity of the terroir to be revealed.
Pale gold in color, this Riesling opens onto an intense nose of ripe citrus, spices, and menthol. The palate is a journey: first indulgent and lemony, it then unveils the "stony" texture of the gneiss before finishing with exceptional length and intense salinity. Although analytically "dry" (5g/l sugar for 6.6g/l acidity), it possesses a remarkable richness of texture.
REGION
Alsace
France
Alsace is a wine region with strong Franco-Germanic influences located in the North-East of France. It is distinguished from other French regions by its significant production of Riesling and Gewurztraminer, often associated with German wines. If you are a white wine enthusiast, it is very likely that you have tasted wines from Alsace; the Alsatian vineyard is the largest producer of white wines, due to its dry climate, but global warming signals a greater production of Pinot Noir in the region.
A great terroir Riesling. You can literally feel the stone on the palate! The finish is endless and saline. Magnificent today but with enormous aging potential.
