Albert Boxler : Riesling Grand cru Sommerberg 2016

Characteristics and tasting advice for Albert Boxler's Riesling Grand cru "Sommerberg" 2016

Tasting

Appearance

A pale golden hue reveals itself in the glass, reflecting moderate evolution and careful aging.

Nose

The bouquet captivates with its aromatic intensity, revealing an enchanting fragrance of delicate honeysuckle accompanied by mineral notes reminiscent of elegant petroleum. Hints of powdered sugar and concentrated lime emerge, while nuances of marzipan, crushed rock powder, and stone fruit pits complete this complex profile. Subtle aromas of apple and grapefruit develop with aeration.

Palate

The palate stands out for its broad structure and remarkable density. It reveals an intense concentration of lime, supported by vibrant acidity and crystalline minerality. The balance is precise, with a texture that is both round and refined. The finish lingers generously, unveiling rich flavors of ripe citrus, a honeyed sweetness, a slight bitterness of apple peel, subtle notes of white peach, and a hint of beeswax. The whole offers a complex and persistent tasting experience.

Food and wine pairings

This grand cru riesling pairs perfectly with seafood, delicate fish, veal, pork, and creamy pasta dishes. Its mineral structure and slight residual sweetness also make it an excellent match for spicy cuisines, particularly Thai, Sichuan, or Indian dishes. It pairs beautifully with terrines, pâtés, and Alsatian charcuterie, as well as fresh goat cheeses or soft cheeses. Vegetable-based dishes highlighting asparagus, artichokes, or mushrooms also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

This 2016 vintage can be enjoyed now while also offering significant aging potential. It is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 8 and 12°C. Although already expressive, this wine will continue to evolve positively and develop its aromatic complexity over the coming years. Under optimal storage conditions, it is expected to improve until around the 2030s.

An exceptional Alsace riesling grown on granite, a pure expression of the Sommerberg terroir

The estate

The Domaine Albert Boxler was founded in 1946 in Niedermorschwihr, in the Haut-Rhin, when Albert Boxler decided to vinify and bottle the family’s grapes for the first time. Today, Jean Boxler, the founder’s grandson and representative of the third generation, manages this nineteen-hectare estate, half of which is classified as grand cru. Recognized as one of the most demanding producers in Alsace, Jean Boxler has been managing the vineyard under certified organic farming for over twenty years and practices fully manual precision viticulture. The estate is internationally celebrated for its rieslings of exceptional purity, elegance, and complexity, ranking among the finest white wines in the world.

The vineyard

The Riesling Grand cru "Sommerberg" comes exclusively from the prestigious Sommerberg vineyard, located in Niedermorschwihr in Alsace. This twenty-nine-hectare grand cru is characterized by steep slopes reaching up to forty-five degrees in incline, rising to around four hundred meters in altitude. The terroir is based on pure Turckheim granite, composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica, which breaks down into coarse granitic sand. These exceptionally mineral, poor, and well-drained soils give the wines a distinctive crystalline minerality and remarkable aromatic intensity. The vines, averaging forty years of age, are cultivated entirely by hand due to the extreme topography. The estate manages several parcels within this grand cru, including the lieux-dits Eckberg and Dudenstein, each expressing specific nuances of the granitic terroir.

The vintage

The 2016 vintage in Alsace was considered very good without reaching exceptional excellence. The climatic conditions required careful vineyard management and selective harvesting to produce high-quality wines. Despite these moderate challenges, the vintage produced wines that were ready to drink upon release while possessing the structure needed to age gracefully. This year allowed Domaine Albert Boxler to demonstrate its ability to produce remarkable wines even under conditions that were not ideal across the entire region.

Winemaking and aging

This wine was crafted following a philosophy of minimal intervention. After manual harvesting at optimal ripeness, the grapes were gently pressed for four to twelve hours in pneumatic presses. The must then underwent cold settling before being transferred by gravity into large French oak foudres ranging from five to over one hundred years old. Fermentation occurred spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts over three to four months in the cool cellar. The wine was then aged on fine lees for approximately eleven months, without bâtonnage, allowing for natural development of complexity. Bottling was carried out with minimal filtration, thus preserving the authentic expression of the terroir and the vintage.

Grape variety

Riesling (100%).