Riesling Grand Cru Zinnkoepfle Vendanges Tardives 2015 – Agathe Bursin

The Riesling Grand Cru Zinnkoepfle Vendanges Tardives Agathe Bursin is the result of botrytis free fruit that concentrated more from passerillage (shriveling of the berries), harvested in early November. The weather was so dry for so long that no botrytis set in, resulting in an uncommonly pure style of Riesling Vendanges Tardives allied to the incomparable Grand cru calcaire character of the Zinnkoepflé.

Since taking over the family domaine in 2000, Agathe has garnered a reputation as one of Alsace’s “comets in the sky”. Quantities from the 5ha estate are small and demand is high making the wines sell out fast. The vines are located around the village of Westhalten in the south of the Alsace region. Around one third of Agathe’s vines are in the Grand Cru of Zinnkoepflé – reaching up to be Alsace’s highest peak at 420m, with south/south-eastern exposures and wonderfully sheltered – with the remainder in what is known as the Noble Valley. Agathe works this terroir by hand and by heart, organic principals and herbal & biodynamic preparations all contributing to the health and vigour of the vines. This land is tied to Agathe’s experiences from early childhood tasting with her grandmother and grandfather. Production for the 5ha estate, although limited in number of bottles, covers all the noble varieties and styles of the regions and wonderfully exhibits the profound textural weight and verve of the region. All grapes are harvested together and co-fermented.