2021 Weinbach - Gewurztraminer Treilles du Loup (750ml)

Domaine Weinbach sits at the foot of the Schlossberg hill in Kientzheim, established in 1612 by Capuchin friars and named for the small stream running through the property. After passing through several hands, including a period as national property following the French Revolution, the estate was acquired by the Faller brothers in 1898 and later shaped by Théo Faller into one of Alsace's defining wine names. Today his granddaughters' sons, Théo and Eddy Lieber-Faller, continue the family tradition across thirty-two hectares of predominantly Grand Cru vineyards.

Les Treilles du Loup, meaning "vines of the wolf," comes from forty to fifty year old vines in the Wolfreben lieu-dit, a parcel of sandy silt and granite pebbles in the Kaysersberg valley between the walled Clos des Capucins and the village itself. The site's soils encourage comparatively early ripening, which lends the wine its complexity and concentration. Grapes are hand-harvested and gently pressed as whole clusters, then fermented spontaneously with native yeasts before aging in large, old oak barrels for eight to ten months.

This wine is off-dry, full-bodied, and full of upfront fruit, with real tang balanced by a composed, structured finish that keeps it from feeling heavy. It's a flexible partner for spiced dishes like red coconut curry or ginger-braised pork, and just as comfortable alongside foie gras or a well-aged cheese.