Alsace

99 Points! The late-budding and rather late-ripening Clos Saint-Urbain, in the very south of Alsace, meets the very warm and solar 2022 vintage in this wine. What a thrilling setting this is, the more so since August and September brought rather cooler conditions to this cooler but, due to its dark soils and stony terraces in summer, nevertheless warm terroir of the Rangen. Indeed, the pH level was rather low in 2022 (at 3.1) and caused a dry and tense Riesling that doesn't at all show the characteristics of the Rieslings around Turckheim or elsewhere in Alsace. The 2022 Clos Saint-Urbain Rangen de Thann Riesling opens very clear, pure, saline/iodine-inflected and stony on the flinty or smoky nose that represents the volcanic terroir of the clos perfectly or, as Olivier Humbrecht puts it, "Like a volcano fart." Powerful, rich and saline on the palate, this is a dense, highly complex and energetic Saint-Urbain that somehow combines the purity of Dönnhoff's Hermannshöhle with the concentration, power and mineral complexity of the magnesium-rich Rangen. The finish is very intense, dense and aromatic as well as salivating, with a great mix of tannins, saline acidity and perfectly ripe (apricot) fruit. Pressed slowly over 14 hours, this is one of the, if not THE, finest Rangen I have tasted from Zind-Humbrecht. (Loyal readers know that I had them all a year ago.) The 2022 comes in with 12.8% alcohol and is a wine to keep for many years. - Stephan Reinhardt, robertparkercom

99 Points! A great masterpiece of finesse. It’s hard to adequately describe the beauty of this dry riesling that marries breathtaking stone fruit aromas with an incredible freshness to create an overwhelmingly elegant and cool whole. Let yourself sink into the deep well of its staggering minerality at the almost endless finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! The 2022 Brand Turckheim Riesling is very clear, bright and generous on the finely flinty (or petrichor) nose that indicates ripe and elegant fruit intertwined with cooler herbal and vegetal notes. Round, generous yet also very mineral and tensioned on the palate, with fine yet palatable tannins, this is another powerful and structured Riesling, yet it is finer than the Wineck-Schlossberg. It's bone dry yet rich and very long. The yield was 45 hectoliters per hectare. 13.66% alcohol. Natural cork. - Stephan Reinhardt, robertparker.com

94 Points! At once juicy, concentrated and refined, this is stunning wine that is intended for more or less everyday drinking. A wealth of stone fruit and fresh almond aromas, plus a touch of mandarin oranges. Stunning balance and finesse at the very long, silky finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Slight hints of wax, earth and lemon show on the still-shy nose. The palate is equally reticent, tightly coiled but speaking of concentrated citrus freshness that verges into zestiness. The bone-dry nature makes it hard to sense ripe citrus slumbering at the core but the fruit will reveal itself with bottle age. Concentration, purity and power promise a future firework, discernible now in the tangerine zestiness on the finish. - Wine Enthusiast

95 Points! Such an exciting and radical gewurz with intense pink grapefruit character, but after a little aeration the rosewater and exotic fruit character of the grape comes through delicately on the nose. Powerful, yet so cool, dry and restrained. Then comes the extraordinary finish that has a freshness which almost knocks you off your chair. The final impression is of wet stone and very dry. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! This offers up some very impressively concentrated fruit in a very smooth, juicy and succulent style with a super juicy and concentrated palate that offers a wealth of very rich and succulent tropical-fruit flavor. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Very striking nose of orange blossoms and chamomile. Very juicy and well rounded, but with a fantastic vitality that’s underlined by the touch of bitterness that adds to the excitement in the dynamic and precise finish. A blend of wines from the lower, middle and upper sections of this site with limestone, sandstone and clay soils. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! The bouquet of this wine is a cloud of smoke and flint. A very juicy, but also very elegant palate with remarkable freshness for this grape variety. Stony finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! There’s nothing obvious about this intensely spicy gewurz. In fact, studying the aromas is like solving an intricate puzzle. Very powerful and creamy with succulent tropical-fruit character, the bold minerality balancing the touch of sweetness. The palate is no less intriguing, thanks to the cool depths that are ever more revealed on the very refined finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. – JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Rich, mouth-filling and highly structured, this has a touch of exotic aromas (mangosteen!), but isn’t a jot too ripe or weighty. In fact, it has wonderful silkiness, in spite of the considerable mineral power at the imposing finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! Chalk, chamomile tincture and dried lemon peel have immense lift on the nose of this wine. They also pervade the bright, balm-like but concentrated palate with their aromatic intensity. This wine is fluid and layered, showing signs of evolution that is set to continue for many years. Gentle sweetness balances the bracing freshness and makes this a real experience. The finish is off dry but very balanced and long. Drink until 2040. - Wine Enthusiast

95 Points! Such an elegant wine for this Grand Cru that tends towards aromatic richness, the pineapple and basil notes very delicate on the nose. On the medium-to full-bodied palate there’s more succulence, but even there the crushed-stone minerality keeps everything very cool and straight. Very long, focused finish with so great vitality and very fine tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! So much candied citrus, angelica, dried sage and thyme in the nose! However, this compact and highly structured Alsace Grand Cru dry riesling is still very youthful and really needs a lot of aeration (decanting and big glasses!) to open it up. Stunning complexity of fruit, herbal and mineral character at the imposing yet very cool finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Deep and concentrated, with ample stone and citrus aromas, the mirabelle aroma as intense as that of Amalfi lemon. Quite an austere style, but with all this ripeness to balance the firm structure that’s no problem. Intense herbal and chalky character at the very focused finish. Still very young, this should develop magnificently with a bit more bottle age. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Fabulous aromas of honeysuckle, lavender, stone and menthol. Full-bodied, lightly off dry, spicy and powerful. Very long and rich. What potential. Fabulous gewurz. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! The 2013 Gewurztraminer Cuvée des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre comes from predominately Keuper marl-limestone soils in Hunawihr (Muhlforst area) and Ribeauvillé (Trottacker) which give this age worthy wine a full and powerful style. Nobly clear and elegant on the deep and concentrated but super subtle nose where ripe bright fruit aromas with a dash of lemon juice are displayed. Round, piquant and very elegant on the palate, this is an intense, complex, lovely mineral and extremely well defined wine with a stimulating vibrancy and a nice tannin grip which, in combination with the minerality, gives not just tension and power but also a very long and salty Gewurztraminer with mandarin flavors and flowers in the very persistent aftertaste...Produced from old vines from the former wine estate of the Lords of Ribeaupierre, the grapes are selected and harvested at the peak of their ripeness. It is a wine with flowery and spicy aromas and a dry personality, and yet so rich and so fruity that it almost hints at sweetness … a mere illusion...In youth, the roundness and viscosity can mask its typical dryness as well as the underlying finesse which is the Trimbach trademark. - Stephan Reinhardt, roobertparker.com

94 Points! Very vibrant and assertive wine with a sense of unhindered power and depth. The palate has such succulent fruit with terrific weight. Moves between citrus and stone fruit with handy acidity driving it through. Will be released in 2021. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - James Suckling