2002 Riesling Schlossberg

Export manager Philippe Blanck describes the 2002 vintage as more about fruit, while 2001 is more minerally. The 2002s are fatter and taste sweeter," added winemaker Frederic Blanck, "while in the leaner 2001s the minerality can dominate the fruit today.The 2002s have more of an emotional aspect but the 2001s may possess better structure."The Blanck family seeks to make accessible wines at reasonable prices.Blanck's four gently priced vins classiques(pinot blanc, riesling, pinot gris and gewurztraminer), which are released early, represent half of the estate's annual output, noted Philippe.As they often include declassified juice from the estate's better parcels, these basic bottlings allow the Blanck family to improve the quality of their lieu-dit and grand cru wines.Incidentally, Blanck is now bottling these wines with screwcaps, an approach I wish more producers in the region would adopt.One of the advantages of using screwcaps, notes Philippe, is that the wines can be finished with lower levels of SO2 which further contributes to their earlier drinkability.(Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; Grand Cru Imports, Philadelphia, PA; Katherine Strange Wines, Los Angeles, CA)