JEAN PIERRE RIETSCH
FRANCE, ALSACE, MITTELBERGHEIM
Following an earlier visit this summer, we are pleased to make these new wines available from Jean-Pierre Rietsch.
Tasting these on JP's terrace overlooking the vines, (alongside Knack d'Alsace sausage, an excellent potato salad, good mustard and a healthy chunk of Tomme Fermière) we were particularly excited by the energy and balance of the 2024 cuvées, not to mention the new multi-vintage Riesling Jean-Pierre has bottled as an active response to climate change and its effects in extreme vintage variation.
2024 itself was an incredibly wet year, as much as three to four times more rain than 2023, but with a warm August helping ripening, the wines have great balance. The new releases are detailed below, we hope you'll enjoy them as much as we are. Photos from our visit in May 2024.
Jean-Pierre has been at the helm of his family vineyards in the historic village for over 37 years now. Diligently organic, but working above and beyond in the parcels to ensure the resulting wines channel their terroir with both complexity and drinkability in equal measure.
AVAILABLE NOW
WHITE
NEW 2024 - Tout Blanc Litre - Auxerrois, Riesling
Fresh acidity and lovely tension, a nice bit of texture from its time on lees, all press-direct after an overnight maceration to kickstart fermentation.
NEW 2024 - Les Mains Libres - Savagnin Rose
The wine Jean-Pierre makes every other year when not producing the perpetual Pas-a-Pas from this parcel. 50% whole bunch in direct-press juice, great detail, layered fruit, long and mineral with the lightest savoury oxidative note.
20/23 - Stein - Riesling
A top-up of the Riesling from the vines beside the house that JP planted with his father 30 years ago, the Leu dit Stein grown on Grey Marl and Limestone. A true terroir Riesling expression, multi-dimensional, long and mineral, ageing beautifully.
NEW 21/22/23/24 - La Nef Des Fou
A beautiful expression of Riesling, hand harvested from the south/south-east facing Grand Cru vineyard, planted over marl, limestone and compacted sandstone. Seeing such extreme variability in vintages with the mood swings of climate change, Jean-Pierre has been saving barrels each year from this parcel as a way of finding true balance in the wine. Stone fruit, grapefruit, cultured butter, this one continues unfolding along its mineral line for quite a while.
SKINS
NEW 2023 - Demoiselle - Gewurztraminer
A really bright & expressive edition of this wine, alive with fruit and acid, very immediate - macerated Gewurz at its best.
RED
NEW 2024 - Tout Rouge Litre - Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris
60/40 Noir to Gris, half kept whole bunch and half is pressed directly. An excellent chillable red that we're very pleased to have here for the rest of summer.
NEW 2024 - Pinot Noir - Pinot Noir
Light and alive, brambly fruit and bags of cherry alongside pithy bit of grapefruit, juicy and on the fruit in 2024. Drinking very well.
