2016 Trimbach Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile, Alsace

Luminous straw-yellow. Complex, mint-accented aromas of nectarine, tangerine and powdered stone, plus hint of licorice. Then bright, juicy and dense, showing outstanding acid-sugar balance and a penetrating juiciness to the stone fruit and herbal flavours. Finishes multilayered and very long, displaying noteworthy clarity and limy cut on the saline finish. Wine lovers everywhere know how great Frederic Emile Rieslings can be, but this looks to be a real knockout in the making; I absolutely love this wines mineral drive and precision. It pulls off the neat trick of being both very age-worthy and also lovely to drink right now. Drink 2026-2039

97+ points Ian d’Agata vinous.com September 2017

Few names carry the weight of history in Alsace quite like Trimbach. The family have been making wine since 1626 and remain one of the region's great standard bearers for dry, ageworthy Riesling. Pierre Trimbach and his team have long championed purity, precision and restraint, with Cuvée Frédéric Emile sitting proudly among the estate's most celebrated wines.

Named in honour of Frédéric Emile Trimbach, who shaped the modern identity of the house after the Second World War, this iconic Riesling is sourced primarily from the Grand Cru vineyards of Geisberg and Osterberg overlooking Ribeauvillé. Limestone rich soils and exceptional exposures produce wines of immense concentration and structure, yet always with the finesse that defines great Alsace Riesling.

After almost a decade in bottle the colour has deepened to a brilliant golden straw. The nose opens with preserved lemon, lime marmalade and white peach before layers of chamomile, beeswax, crushed stone and delicate smoky notes emerge with air. Classic mature Riesling aromas of toast and gentle kerosene add complexity without overshadowing the fruit. The palate is powerful yet beautifully composed, combining citrus intensity and mineral tension with a seamless texture and extraordinary length. Every sip seems to reveal another layer.

Magnificent alongside lobster with beurre blanc, roast chicken with morels, turbot with brown butter and capers, or a rich mushroom tart scented with thyme. Drinking beautifully today, yet the balance and structure suggest this legendary Alsace Riesling will continue rewarding patience well into the 2040s.