Today we are delighted to announce our inaugural release of Trimbach, one of the world’s greatest winemaking dynasties. The Trimbach family have produced wine in Alsace for three centuries, having established the house in 1626, now run by the 12th generation of the family, Pierre and Jean. They produce exceptional wine from the classic Alsace varieties, however, their two greatest wines come from Riesling. Trimbach Clos St. Hune and Cuvee Frederic Emile are recognised not only as Alsace’s two greatest dry Rieslings, moreover the two finest dry Rieslings in the world! We do have allocations of Clos St. Hune 2012 on request for £360 per case of three, however, today we are focusing on Cuvee Frederic Emile, as we have sourced a stunning parcel of the 2008 vintage, which is considered by many as their finest in 50 years!
Cuvee Frederic Emile 2008 has received 96 points from Robert Parker who says ‘The 2008 Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile is now in the market and readers shouldn’t miss seeking it out.’ It was bottled in 2009 and we are excited to source the parcel direct from the Estate, which with the average vine age of 45 years has very limited yields, producing 3,000 cases in years it is produced. Cuvee Frederic Emile is only made in exceptional years. Our price today of £210 per case of six is remarkable; £35 a bottle for a 96 point scoring Parker wine, considered to be the globally best in class for dry Riesling and with nearly a decade in bottle!
Cuvee Frederic Emile and Clos St. Hune demand comparison. In 1919 the Trimbach family created Clos St. Hune from a three acre vineyard which lies within the Rosacker Grand Gru. The label does not bare the Grand Cru, rather hors classe. They produce less than 700 cases a year from the plot and it has a rather mythical status. By 1960 the Trimbach family decided they needed another world beating dry Riesling, which led to the birth of Cuvee Frederic Emile, which on the other hand is a blend of two Grand Cru sites, Geisberg and Osterberg, in equal measure. The two Grand Cru vineyards boast limestone, sandstone, clay and are not only stoney, yet alkaline, which explains the wine’s incredible minerality and powerful acidity. The vineyards also benefit from strong wine, which keeps the grapes dry, lessening disease and incidences of boytriytis, along with extending the hang time and explaining how the vineyards yield fruit of such staggering complexity.
Cuvee Frederic Emile is seen as the equal of Clos St. Hune in its better vintages and in 2008 it surpasses it, vastly outscoring it. In fact, in the last 10 years only the 2015 Clos St. Hune has outscored it with 97+ points. Like the Clos St. Hune, Cuvee Frederic Emile has incredible ageing potential, measured more in half centuries than decades, although it begins drinking extremely well after around eight years in bottle. As such the towering 2008 is perfect now and for the next 40 years. It certainly has more than a passing resemblance to Clos St Hune in its youth, exhibiting similar exhilarating freshness and high octane notes, due to its weightiness it can be considered more austere for the first five years. Then with age it develops sweet spice, liquorice, a delightful flintiness, turning to ginger, spiced orange, violets, apricots, ripe peaches, honey, herbal tea and stone fruit, of course, the stunning distinct and Riesling-esque notes of beeswax, petrol and rubber, which we love!
Cuvee Frederic Emile 2008 is a unique opportunity to buy a truly world class wine for £35 a bottle, one that you can enjoy now and for many years to come. The price point makes htis one of the finest priced great wines we have ever offered!
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