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! 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

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

91+ Points! Sourced from the upper part of the vineyard, the 2014 Riesling Grand Cru Hengst Samain is rich, ripe and concentrated on the nose, though still closed. Rich, round and intense on the palate, this is a very firmly structured but also finessed Riesling that indicates an enormous ripeness and power; but it should be aged for another couple of years. Picked at the 9th of October, so a week later than the regular Hengst. - Stephan Reinhardt, robertparker.com