2023 Melanie Pfister - Riesling Engelberg GC (750ml)

Mélanie Pfister represents the eighth generation of her family to make wine in Dahlenheim, a village in the far north of Alsace just west of Strasbourg. The estate dates to 1780, when Nicolas Pfister farmed as a “bourgeois winegrower” in buildings the family still uses today. Mélanie holds enology degrees from Bordeaux and Dijon and trained at Méo-Camuzet, Cheval Blanc, and Zind-Humbrecht before joining her father André in 2006. She is the first woman to lead the domaine. The estate is known for strictly dry, precise wines and has been certified organic since 2021.

Engelberg, or “Angel’s Hill,” is one of the northernmost Grand Cru vineyards in Alsace. It was praised for its wine as early as 884 and became a Grand Cru in 1985. The south-facing slope has stony clay-limestone soils over Middle Jurassic oolitic limestone, which was once pure enough to support a lime quarry. The Pfisters farm just under two acres in the prime mid-slope section. The 2023 grapes were hand-harvested on October 7, fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel, and aged 18 months on the fine lees before bottling in summer 2025. The finished wine is bone-dry.

This Alsace Grand Cru Riesling is pale yellow and gleaming. It opens with white flowers, hawthorn, lily of the valley, lime, and citrus zest. Slender and airy, the palate balances lively acidity with a gentle, mineral bitterness. The long finish has a salty, limestone edge. It will continue to develop through about 2035. Pair it with pan-fried trout in lemon butter, asparagus risotto, or chicken in cream sauce.