Maison Trimbach : Riesling "Cuvée Frédéric Emile" 2016

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Riesling "Cuvée Frédéric Emile" 2016 Maison Trimbach

Tasting

Colour
With a bright straw-yellow colour, this wine offers a pale and refined hue.

Nose
Remarkably complex, the bouquet reveals aromas of nectarine and mandarin underscored by a hint of menthol, gunflint and subtle notes of liquorice. A waxy, honeyed dimension intertwines with scents of citrus and lemon blossom.

Palate
Completely dry, the palate stands out for its lively, incisive acidity that brings a sense of freshness. It unfolds citrus flavours such as lemon, lime and grapefruit, enriched with touches of jasmine, white peach and apricot. The slightly rich texture stretches into a long, saline, mineral finish, evoking limestone rock and wet slate.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs beautifully with regional specialities such as choucroute garnie or onion tarts, as well as with fine fish, oysters, shellfish or caviar. It also perfectly accompanies white meats, sautéed poultry, spicy Asian dishes, fresh goat cheeses and dishes featuring spring vegetables.

Service and storage

Built for long-term ageing, the Riesling "Cuvée Frédéric Emile" 2016 can be enjoyed now and will continue to improve in the cellar until around 2045.

Other characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 13.3% and is characterised by a total absence of residual sugar, offering a perfectly dry profile supported by pronounced acidity.

The mineral expression of an Alsace white wine

The estate

Founded in 1626 by Jean Trimbach, Maison Trimbach is a true institution in Alsace, France. Based in Ribeauvillé since 1920, the family has cultivated excellence through 61 hectares of estate-owned vineyards. Today, the thirteenth generation, represented notably by Julien Trimbach at the technical helm, continues this pursuit of balance. Named Producer of the Year in 2025 by La Revue du Vin de France, this independent estate is renowned for its dry wines that deeply reflect their terroir, all while committing to certified organic viticulture.

The vineyard

The grapes come from the Geisberg and Osterberg plots, located in Alsace and overlooking the estate. Facing south and southeast, these vines grow on complex soils combining marl, limestone and sandstone, over a bedrock of shell limestone. The vines, with an average age of over fifty-five years, draw deeply from this subsoil to produce grapes of remarkable concentration.

The vintage

The year began with a wet spring followed by a hot summer. The cooler autumn allowed for slow, optimal ripening of the grapes. These climatic conditions favoured the development of precise flavours while preserving excellent balance at harvest.

Winemaking and ageing

Hand-harvested grapes undergo gentle pneumatic pressing. The juice flows by gravity before fermenting at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks and old neutral oak foudres. To preserve its characteristic freshness, the Riesling "Cuvée Frédéric Emile" 2016 undergoes no malolactic fermentation. Following early bottling in spring, the wine ages for several years in the estate's cellars before release.

Grape variety

100% Riesling