Domaine Weinbach - Muscat Reserve, 2015
Domaine Weinbach was founded by Capuchin monks in 1612. The estate house is surrounded by the famous Clos du Capucin, the historical monastic vineyard whose name also appears on all Weinbach’s wine labels.
Domaine Weinbach lies just outside the small village of Kaysersberg. Their mansion is painfully difficult to locate, even with a GPS. When asked why they didn’t make the location easier to find, their young winemaker smiled at me and replied: “It’s good to struggle to find beautiful things – that increases their value”. After tasting their wines, I couldn’t disagree.
The Faller family acquired the estate in 1898 and since then have been consistently producing excellent wines. They farm their vineyards organically, carefully hand-picking grapes and following the traditional Alsatian approach. Domaine Weinbach was among the first producers in Alsace to be certified biodynamic.
The wine shines in a straw-yellow hue, pale in intensity. To the nose, this muscat opens up with a lively and delicate aroma. Crunchy notes of citrus and lime mingle with rosewater, jasmine and orange blossom chased by juicy nectarine notes. The lovely aromatic profile is supported by an underlying granite minerality.
To the palate, the wine is full body but never heavy. A fantastic mineral and pungent acidity counterbalances the rich and crunchy aromas. Flavours of ripe citrus, nectarine, rose petals with hints of burned matches. The sharp precision of flavours is framed by a lovely smoky-and-stone minerality. Lovely bone dry finish. Good ripeness, elegant, refreshing and lively. Great balance overall.