Furstentum Riesling

Type du vin : aromatic dry white
Grapes : Riesling
Alcohol :  % vol
Temperature : 10-12 °C
To keep : 15 years

Terroir:

Furstentum lies at 400m altitude, facing due south.
It is one of the last remaining vestiges of the sub-Mediterranean era which Alsace experienced.
The soil is very stony and drains well because the calcareous bedrock breaks through.

Vinification:

The juice is extracted with infinite care in our air-bag press. The slow, gentle pressing avoids crushing the stalks and pips.
The must starts fermenting of its own accord thanks to the natural yeast present in the juice, and the fermentation generally lasts from 4 to 10 weeks. It is carried out in stainless-steel vats equipped with temperature control, a medium which maximises the expression of this variety's aromas.

Elevage:

The wine is matured on its lees in large oak barrels for 12 months.
This lees-contact contributes richness to the wine. What is more, the oxygen which passes through the pores of the wood brings about a gentle oxidization of the wine, and the subsequent opening up of its aromas.
The wine is then bottled and aged for 2 to 3 further years before being offered for sale.
This bottle-ageing also plays a role in the wine's development. Here, the opposite of oxidization happens: thanks to certain reactions in the oxygen-free environment, the bouquet develops and takes on subtler nuances.

Tasting note:

91(+?) - 2007 Domaine Paul Blanck Riesling Furstentum
Good pale color. Lemon, menthol and minerals on the rather cool nose. Pure, juicy and intense, with a lovely tangy quality to the crystallized lemon peel flavor. Offers a captivating sugar/acid balance and finishes with excellent length and a distinctly firm edge. This should develop more complexity with five or six years of bottle aging. Frederic Blanck notes that this wine comes from a variety of soil types, and that its components typically need time to harmonize.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Issue 141: November/December 2008

When & with what:

As it stands, given its immaturity we recommend drinking it as an aperitif or with starters, terrines, fish, or typical Alsacian dishes like sauerkraut or hot-pot.
In the years to come, it will be a perfect match for warm sea-perch mousseline or delicately-flavoured fish, and eventually for grilled fish.

Press:

91(+?) - 2007 Domaine Paul Blanck Riesling Furstentum
Good pale color. Lemon, menthol and minerals on the rather cool nose. Pure, juicy and intense, with a lovely tangy quality to the crystallized lemon peel flavor. Offers a captivating sugar/acid balance and finishes with excellent length and a distinctly firm edge. This should develop more complexity with five or six years of bottle aging. Frederic Blanck notes that this wine comes from a variety of soil types, and that its components typically need time to harmonize.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Issue 141: November/December 2008