2024 Sophie Schaal - Riesling (750ml)

Sophie Schaal was born in Burgundy and trained as an oenologist in Dijon before settling in Alsace with her husband Julien, in the small village of Hunawihr between Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr. There she built her own label, distinct from Julien's Grand Cru-focused Riesling project, working across a wider range of varieties and letting each parcel's particular mix of granite, limestone, and schist come through in the glass. Her approach leans on organic farming and a hands-off philosophy in the cellar, aiming for wines that taste like where they're grown rather than how they're made.

This Riesling grows on clay-limestone soil, where the clay holds moisture for a slow, even ripening while the limestone lends tension and minerality to the finished wine. The vines are farmed without synthetic chemicals or pesticides, and the fruit is handled gently to keep its natural freshness intact through fermentation.

The nose leads with orange blossom, fresh lime, and tropical fruit, moving into a palate of citrus, lemon curd, and crisp green apple. A refined, slate-like minerality runs underneath, and bright natural acidity carries the wine to a long, elegant finish. It works beautifully as an aperitif and pairs well with seafood, shellfish, or white fish in garlic or citrus-based sauces.