2017 Riesling Kitterle
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Riesling Grand Cru Kitterlé is clear and elegant on the nose that indicates a matured wine with pancake, vegetal and ripe Riesling aromas. None of the following Rieslings have this maturity and old-fashioned style that indicates a less careful selection of healthy grapes. Rich and round on the palate, this is a quite bitter and robust Riesling that is dense but not fine and rather rural in character. It is not very often that you can experience such a remarkable development in style, finesse and elegance from one year to another than here from 2017 to 2018 and all the vintages that follow. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in March 2024.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Tasted from a 3-cl sample bottle. Very fierce acidity and a certain oiliness. Pretty demanding! At the moment it's quite difficult to find sufficient fruit. The overall impression is of a hard wine that has aged quite fast. It may be some people's idea of a fine Alsace Riesling but not mine, I'm afraid. For some reason (unintentional duplication?) I was sent two little bottles of this so I checked the second one which was just the same, alas. (JR)
Tasted from a 3-cl sample bottle. Certified HVE. TA 4.22 g/l, RS 0.61 g/l. 6,800 bottles produced. Traces of kerosene webbing their way through bone-dry lime fruit and herbs. Austere and a little rigid. Feels brittle in the mouth. (TC)
The steeply sloping stone-walled Kitterlé vineyard enjoys three different exposures: south-west, south and south-east. Soils are made up of pink sandstone and volcanic rock. Grapes are hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, followed by static settling on the lees. Fermentation in stainless-steel tanks and the juice rests on the lees for 8 months before bottling. Fine, taut wine that suggests terroir rather than fruit on the nose. Grapefruit peel and quite demanding. Needs time but it’s minerally and pungent. Still pretty austere on the end. The most reserved wine so far! (JR)