Wonderful Alsatian Muscat from a producer we associate with a clean-cut precision. A 10-day whole-bunch maceration this year, proving very fine and delicate rather than overbearing, Rietsch long-since having understood the best way to work with his aromatic varieties. Bags of lime and grapefruit citrus with a chalky, mineral undertow and delicate floral perfume. Low finished alcohol gives this wine a lifted quality. Absolutely delicious.
The Rietsch estate has been in the family for seven generations and the land was previously used for tobacco and crops. It was Jean-Pierre's parents who started cultivating vines in 1970s, and handed on to Jean-Pierre in 1987. Although Jean-Pierre is now retired, he still contributes to daily runnings and is assisted by Pierre-Etienne Grieshaber. Le Main Verte is another contributing company, and coordinate the manual work in the vineyards yet the domaine is still very much driven by a family-led culture. The vineyard is naturally cultivated, with terroir at the heart of the operation and no use of chemicals.
