Maison Trimbach : Geisberg Grand cru 2018

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Geisberg Grand Cru 2018 from Maison Trimbach

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a pale yellow hue with golden highlights and a remarkably crystalline brilliance.

Nose
The nose reveals a lovely aromatic complexity with notes of stone fruits (apricot, white peach, nectarine) accompanied by citrus nuances. With aeration, aromas of dried herbs (lemongrass, sage), honey and sweet spices (anise) emerge, underpinned by a characteristic stony minerality.

Palate
On the palate, the wine is both juicy and rich, with a beautiful concentration of white-fleshed fruits. The texture reveals a pronounced saline minerality, accompanied by honeyed and spicy notes. The finish lingers at length on mineral and citrusy accents, with a subtle tannic structure that adds depth.

Food and wine pairings

This Geisberg Grand Cru 2018 pairs magnificently with grilled shellfish, lobster in sauce, noble fish prepared with butter or herb-roasted poultry. It also pairs beautifully with a white truffle risotto, asparagus with hollandaise sauce or aged cheeses.

Serving and storage

This Geisberg Grand Cru 2018 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature of 8 to 9°C. Decanting for approximately 30 to 45 minutes allows the wine to fully express its aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed until around 2048.

An Alsace Grand Cru Riesling of exceptional minerality

The estate

Founded in 1626 in Ribeauvillé, Maison Trimbach is an independent family estate that has perpetuated its expertise for thirteen generations. The domaine spans approximately 65 hectares across some fifty plots, with a significant proportion of grands crus. Today led by Pierre and Jean Trimbach (twelfth generation), progressively joined by their children Anne, Frédérique, Julien and Pauline, the house is internationally renowned for its dry, mineral Rieslings with outstanding aging potential. Certified organic since 2023, Maison Trimbach embodies the excellence of Alsace wines through a philosophy centered on balance and purity.

The vineyard

Geisberg is one of the smallest grands crus in Alsace, with only 8.5 hectares in total. Maison Trimbach owns 2.66 hectares of vines over fifty years old, planted on steep south-facing slopes north of Ribeauvillé. The terroir of this Alsace Grand Cru Geisberg is characterized by marly-limestone-sandstone soils composed of limestone and sandstone, which give the wines a distinctive minerality and great aging capacity. The altitude and optimal exposure allow ideal ripening of the grapes.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in Alsace was marked by abundant rainfall during the first seven months of the year, followed by a particularly hot and dry summer period. These contrasting climatic conditions allowed the mature vines of Geisberg, benefiting from excellent natural drainage, to produce perfectly balanced, concentrated grapes with beautiful freshness.

Winemaking and aging

The Geisberg Grand Cru 2018 is vinified according to the house's traditional methods: slow fermentation at low temperature in stainless steel tanks to preserve aromatic purity, without malolactic fermentation in order to retain the natural acidity. The wine is bottled the spring following the harvest, then benefits from several years of cellar aging before release, allowing its complexity to develop.

Grape variety

100% Riesling