2023 Riesling Réserve

Pierre Trimbach, now with 45 vintages under his belt, reports that 2023 was even drier than 2022. “Even though we had a dry vintage, it did not bring us very high sugar levels, as the vineyards did not work anymore,” Trimbach said, referring to the vines’ metabolic shutdown resulting from a lack of water. “Sugar levels were not as high as in 2018 or 2022,” he added. The Trimbach harvest commenced on September 11 in “great weather, so there was no rush to pick the grapes. We finished after a month of picking.” The grapes were healthy, even though some fruit damaged by the dryness had to be sorted out. Trimbach states candidly that the domaine did not bottle all the wine it produced in 2023, with batches deemed not up to standard sold in bulk. Pierre Trimbach delivered a great collection in 2023 in his customary fashion. The wines are taut, bright and clean-cut, but with immense amounts of poise and charm. In 2023, the limestone sites clearly had the edge, and the Riesling Vignoble du Couvent de Ribeauvillé Geisberg Grand Cru is shaping up to become a perennial coup de coeur.