Julien Schaal Alsace Grand Cru Schoenenbourg 'Gypse' Riesling 2024

Schoenenbourg is one of Alsace's most prestigious Grand Cru sites, renowned for its unique gypsum-rich soils that give this wine its 'Gypse' designation. The vineyard's steep slopes and exceptional drainage create ideal conditions for Riesling, producing wines with remarkable mineral complexity and aging potential. Julien Schaal's interpretation showcases how this terroir translates into distinctive honey and lemon flavours with pronounced minerality.

The 2024 vintage in Alsace delivered excellent conditions for Riesling, allowing for optimal ripeness while maintaining the variety's signature acidity. This recent vintage means you're experiencing the wine at its youthful peak, where the textural qualities are beautifully integrated with fresh citrus notes. The medium-bodied structure suggests this wine will continue developing complexity over the next 5-10 years.

The textural style indicates this Riesling has more weight and mouthfeel than typical crisp, linear examples. This comes from the gypsum soils and Schaal's winemaking approach, creating a wine with substance and grip that coats the palate. The honey notes contribute to this texture, while the minerality provides backbone, resulting in a Riesling that's both elegant and substantial.

Julien Schaal represents the new generation of Alsace winemakers, focusing on expressing individual vineyard sites with minimal intervention. His approach emphasises terroir expression, particularly working with Grand Cru vineyards to showcase their unique soil compositions. The 'Gypse' designation reflects his commitment to highlighting the specific gypsum soils of Schoenenbourg, creating wines that speak authentically of their place.

The wine's minerality and medium body make it exceptional with seafood, particularly oysters, crab, or grilled fish where the lemon notes complement beautifully. The honey characteristics also pair wonderfully with Asian cuisine, especially dishes with subtle spice or ginger. The textural weight can handle richer preparations like roasted chicken or pork, while the acidity cuts through creamy sauces perfectly.