THE WINE
100% Riesling from mixed south-facing limestone parcels around Mittelbergheim. 2/3's 2020 vintage aged for 43 months in foudre and the remaining third from 2023 spending 8 months in barrel. Light and bright with piquant acidity, we enjoyed this wine with a particularly fatty barbequed Brill and it paired brill-iantly...
THE PEOPLE
Despite being the 7th generation to farm his family estate, Jean-Pierre is only the second as a winemaker and grower there. Previously the farm grew tobacco and started to see vines planted in the 1970s. The domaine is still very much driven by a family-led culture. Vines are raised naturally, with terroir at the heart of the operation and no use of chemicals. Sulphur is very rarely used in the cellar, only when absolutely necessary.
A pioneer winemaker for the region, JP was the first to start experimenting with skin-contact techniques for his whites. And, whilst we adore these it is the Pinots and sparkling wines that we turn to when given the chance.
THE PLACE
Mittelbergheim, in Alsace’s Bas-Rhin, is celebrated for its exceptional terroir, especially for the Grand Cru Zotzenberg vineyard, whose marl-limestone soils and sunny slopes produce refined, mineral-driven wines. Uniquely, Zotzenberg allows Sylvaner alongside Alsace’s noble varieties, giving the village a distinctive identity. Local Riesling tends to be bright and saline, Pinot Gris richer and textured, and Sylvaner notably elegant and fresh. Compared with neighboring villages, Mittelbergheim’s wines are generally more restrained and mineral, with less opulence and more precision. With a long winemaking history and a strong focus on sustainable practices, it remains one of Alsace’s most characterful wine villages.
JP Rietsch - Stein 2020/23
6% Off 6 Bottles

