M. Chapoutier : Riesling "Lieu-dit Fels" Domaine Schieferkopf 2021

An alluring minerality and complexity, a fine white wine from Alsace

The estate

Established since 1808 in Tain-L'Hermitage, M. Chapoutier is an elite reference among fine Rhône Valley wines today.

Winemaker and wine merchant, Michel Chapoutier has successfully brought this family-owned business to the very top. The wines by Maison Chapoutier are renowned by the finest connoisseurs from all around the world for their refinement and high quality. A man of many talents, Michel Chapoutier holds the world record for 100/100 scores awarded by the American critic, Robert Parker. Mathilde, Michel Chapoutier's daughter, has taken over the running of this iconic house, which has over 350 hectares of vineyards in the most prestigious appellations of the northern and southern Rhône Valley region.

The vineyard

Stemming from a plot selection, this Riesling "Lieu-dit Fels" Domaine Schieferkopf 2021 by M. Chapoutier is made from a biodynamic plot in the commune of Bernardvillé. Situated on a vein of Alsatian blue schist, this shallow and south-east facing vineyard, with a particularly windy microclimate, provides the wine with mineral-elements and an elegant expression and tension. This parcel is recognised as being the estate's most mineral plot.

The wine

Schieferkopf is one of the Domaines et Maisons managed by M. Chapoutier. This estate watches over a vineyard whose array of sun exposures and soils reveal all the nuances and richness of Alsatian and German wines.

The vintage

The winter season was cold and snowy. Although March was mild, April was marked by particularly cool temperatures. Until August, the low amount of sunshine combined with heavy rainfall reinforced the vineyard's sanitary pressure. The milder conditions at the end of the season were ideal for refining the ripening process. Despite these unusual and extreme conditions, the harvest is very qualitative and gives rise to wines that harmoniously combine finesse and precision with a beautiful acidity and a suave minerality.

The blend

Riesling (100%).

M. Chapoutier’s "Lieu-dit Fels" Domaine Schieferkopf 2021: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Nose

Discreet at first, the nose reveals minty and fruity fragrances that stem from the schistous soils.

Palate

A lively attack precedes a balanced and fruity mouth. The finish is alluring due to its mineral-driven elements conferred by the soil's typical salinity.