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2021 Domaine Albert Boxler Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg
3 in stock
$265.00
Description
“The ‘regular’ bottling from 40+ year old vines across the Sommerberg Grand Cru. A little more reserved aromatically but still intensely mineral with tightly coiled tension. This was the foudre that reminded of German Riesling the most. Very long focussed palate. One for laying down”
Domaine Albert Boxler is a 300 year old family run domaine in the high Alsace village of Niedermorschwihr. Today the domaine is run by Jean Boxler, Albert’s grandson who has over 20 vintages under his belt. This is one of Alsace’s most prestigious addresses, with a reputation of producing some of the region’s finest and most consistent wines. Their 13.5 hectares of vineyards rate amongst the best holdings in Alsace with over 50% Grand Cru rated, shared among the Sommerberg and Brand Grand Crus. The steep and terraced Sommerberg vineyards are only able to be worked manually. Most of the vines are on granitic soils with some limestone based plots too. All the vineyards are farmed organically.
Natural yeast fermentations take place in wooden foudre, some very old and some newer. Jean keeps each parcel separate and does not necessarily blend them so the range on offer changes slightly from year to year depending on quantity and quality. Jean prefers to retain acidity in his wines so they tend to be drier than average Alsacian examples. Densely concentrated but incredibly pure, with the mineral drive of granitic soils giving Boxler’s wines a brilliance and precision rarely matched in the region. The quality of their vineyards and the skill of the Boxlers translate into some of the most exciting and potentially longest lived wines, particularly Rieslings, in Alsace.
Although the shining star of the varietal range is Riesling you will not find a better dry Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner or Chasselas in Alsace. While the Pinot Gris gravitates around dryness, the Gewurtraminer follows the tradional model of ascending richness, spectacularly concentrated if not a la mode today.
| ★★★(highest rating) – “Jean Boxler, perched in the heights of Niedermorschwihr, confirms his reputation as a rigorous winemaker with his latest vintages. He proffers all of his sophistication to the Sommerberg grand cru, a granite area where the steep slope makes work particularly difficult. The estate possesses 4 hectares (Sommerberg GC), and 1.9 hectares of Brand grand cru. Different cuvées grown in several parcels are available; all of them have reached an exceptional standard.” Le Guide des Meilleures Vins de France 2020 ★★★★★(highest rating; one of 4 in Alsace) – “Since his arrival in the family domain, he has produced 20 vintages, and Jean Boxler has gradually evolved his methods to now be vinifying at the same level as Alsace’s elite. The vines are splendidly located in Sommerberg, where Jean possesses a large plot, and also in Brand, two terroirs that shine with Riesling, the region’s finest grape variety. The viticulture is rigorous and careful, with élevages adapted to each wine and each vintage. They are practically faultless, whatever the grape variety, even the modest Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc… and of course the Riesling too distinguish themselves at the heart of the range. The choice is vast, even if few wines are available at the domain.” Guide des Meilleures Vins de France 2020 |
