Domaine Loew Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergbieten 2004

Very sweet, not too sugary, but flowery. Bright clean start, smooth finish.

March 2007

I'm a fan of Alsatian wines, but this one really impressed me - very concentrated wine - rich, sweet stone fruits on the nose and in the mouth. Almost sweet in its richness (but no sugar), balanced by good acidity - which gives it a clean finish.

August 2007

Rating: 93/100 - As reviewed by The Wine Messenger From Alsace, Etienne Loew's Grand Cru Riesling. With honey, stone fruit and mineral notes, this white is not to be missed.
Altenberg de Bergbieten is one of the 50 Grand Cru vineyards of Alsace. This vineyard is in the lower Rhine region, near Strasbourg, close to the northern limit for quality wine growing. Fortunately, the Altenberg has a southeastern exposure, ensuring plentiful sunshine, and a mix of clay and sandstone soil that retains heat and water very well. Sandstone is also the ideal soil for Riesling, and Loew's vines are an average of 30 years old producing a beautiful and complex read more...wine.
This wine is brightly lemon colored showing great concentration. It has a honeyed fruit nose of peaches, apricots and lychees. The flavors on the palate follow the nose dominated by stone fruit and citrus flavors. A gentle wine with balanced acidity, some minerality, and a long clean, crisp, finish displaying great quality. A splendid wine with a variety of foods including ham, quiche, onions, seafood (especially smoked salmon), and fresh fruit. Will evolve until 2012 in a good cellar.
Apples, Berries, Ham, Pears, Quiche, Salmon, Seafood, Smoked Fish
Domaine Loew is very rapidly becoming one of the best domaines in the north of Alsace. Situated in Westoffen, it is about at the latitude of Strasbourg. The current winemaker, Etienne Loew, is the latest in a long line of wine growing Loews. After going to Oenology School, he came back and brought new techniques to the family business. His main concern is respect for the “terroir,” whose storied history dates back to the “Clos des Fréres” (monks) in Bruderbach as early as 1260; it is one of the oldest vineyards in Alsace.

Despite being quite far north, Alsace is the driest part of France, and enjoys plentiful sunshine and beautiful autumns thanks to the Vosges Mountains that protect the area from the maritime influence of the Atlantic Ocean. In some years, this climate allows growers to leave the grapes on the vines until mid-November to make fantastic “vendanges tardives” (late-harvest) wines.

Alsace enjoys a unique micro-climate situated between two parallel ranges of mountains: the Vosges on the French side and the Schwartzbald on the German side. It also has one of France’s lowest rainfalls and most sustained sunshine although it is the northernmost wine growing region of France. The wine producing region stretches over a thin strip of land about 70 miles long and 12 miles wide. The total growing area covers over 33,000 acres divided in very small lots (average size is 3.5 acres). This wholes area comprises the “Alsace Appellation Controlée.”

Another characteristic of this AC is that it is the only one in France which requires the name of the varietal on the label. Only eight grape varieties are permitted and most of them are of German origin. The minimum natural degree of alcohol is 8.5% but the freshly made wines usually reach a higher level; when they do not, due to lack of sun, chaptalization is permitted. The five major grapes in order of importance are: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner and Tokay. The best wines are still made by independent producers, but the Alsace cooperatives also produce top quality wines.

No written review

December 2007

No written review

October 2007