Domaines Schlumberger
Riesling Kessler Grand Cru
Riesling from Alsace, France
Bottle size:
750 ml
Shipping: R150 nationwide
Domaines Schlumberger
Our estate is located in Alsace in eastern France. When our ancestors settled in Guebwiller in the sixteenth century the Prince Abbots of the Murbach abbey were largely controlling the vineyard. The French Revolution at the end of the eighteenth century led to the end of their influence and allowed land redistribution. In 1810 Nicolas Schlumberger (1782-1867) set up his textile machinery factory in Guebwiller. To mark his attachment to the land he also bought about 20 hectares of vines. In doing so he laid the foundations of a rare conjunction of human search for perfection and land: The Domaines Schlumberger” were born. Three generations later Ernest Schlumberger (1885–1954) assumed control of the estate. Deeply affected by the phylloxera that hit it in the early twentieth cetury the Guebwiller vineyard had been abandoned by most of the winegrowers. Shrewdly Ernest Schumberger realised the opportunity in front of him. He bought as many plots of land as he could and replanted vines. He then arranged the whole vineyard in terraces and introduced horizontal vine planting. Eric Beydon-Schlumberger arrived in Guebwiller in 1971 and fully involved himself in the company. We owe to him the replanting of the ageing vineyard and the international reputation of the Domaines Schlumberger.
Description
The robe is golden yellow with light reflections of good intensity. The disk is bright, limpid and transparent. The wine shows a nice youth. The nose is marked, pleasant and intense. We perceive a dominant of citrus fruits (lemon), white flowers and a light smoky, empyreumatic touch. The airing enhances the previous scents and reveals notes of delicate vegetal, spices (ginger). The nose reflects the perfect state of health of the grapes, still a bit restrained. It requires time to assert itself. The onset in the mouth is ample, gentle. The alcoholic base is balanced. The wine evolves on a medium with a sharp vivacity, marked by a sparking note. We find the same aromas as on the nose, still focused on citrus fruits (citron zest, lemon), white flowers, delicate vegetal, spices (ginger) and underlying but noble smoky touch. We perceive a hint of mineral bitterness. The finish has a good length, 8-9 caudalies, a frank vivacity and a persistent bitterness. Admirable delicious balance for a wine that is usually dry. It does not lose its freshness, remarkably maintained by the firm bitterness. The range of flavours is splendid!
Food Pairing
It can be associated with noble meats: king crab with avocado and caviar, American-style crayfish, slipper lobsters marinated with spices and fried in duck fat or a goat’s milk cheese, such as the Valencay. Serve at a temperature of 12°C.
