Domaine Marcel Deiss - Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim 2004
Alsace
White
Sold individually
Drink or Keep
98/100
RVF
-
18,5/20
Bettane & Desseauve
-
94/100
Robert Parker
"A wine for laying down (Bettane+Desseauve)".
"His 2004 Altenberg de Bergheim glows with honey, lily, baking spices, orange liqueur and citrus zest. On the palate, the underlying density evokes minerality [...]. Candied citrus, orange liqueur and marmalade, peach jam, walnut paste, honey and vanilla, as well as the richness of the pastry and the texture of the butter give this wine a pastry character - if you just imagine chalk powders instead of flour. It finishes with remarkable lift and elegance for such a rich wine." (Wine Advocate)
Features
Estate
Domaine Marcel Deiss
Cuvée
Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim
Vintage
2004
Designation
Alsace Grand Cru
Region
Alsace
Grape varieties
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer
Terroirs
Located at the heart of a geological fault field that brings together Jurassic hard limestone and Lias marl, facing due south.
Viticulture
Biodynamic cultivation: ploughing of vines, no chemicals
Harvest
100% manual
Winemaking
Traditional with the purest respect for terroirs
Breeding
In oak barrels on lees for 12 months
Alcohol content
12%
Residual sugars
55 g/l
Tasting & pairing
Eye
Amber color with yellow highlights
Nose
Complex, powerful and vibrant, very fruity, a perfect synthesis of zest and acacia honey, the flamboyant bitterness of exotic fruits and the solar violence of lemon.
Mouth
Fresh and full of energy, powerful and unctuous, with lots of minerality.
Serve
Decant at 12°C
Open
1h before service
Drink from
2008
Drink before
2050
Food and wine pairing
Enjoy with fresh or pan-fried foie gras, poularde with honey and lemon, lightly spiced Thai cuisine...
Marcel Deiss Estate
Alsace
Expert opinion
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated 18.5/20 (Wine of exceptional quality)
Domaine rated (guide 2023) 5*Stars (Exceptional producers, those who represent the absolute pinnacle of quality in France and the world)
About the wine:
The first Grand Cru planted on the estate, Altenberg is powerful, unctuous and very deep, with an almost perfect expression of the terroir's minerality. A wine for laying down.
About the domain :
Although Jean-Michel Deiss spends a lot of time in his vineyards, it's his son Mathieu who is in charge of vinification. An engaging winemaker, his sensitivity is evident in the evolution of his wines, particularly the Pinot Noirs, which become more delicate and refined with each vintage. In the whites, trials of maceration give thickness and depth to the textures on the palate. As a winegrower-entrepreneur, Mathieu has expanded his vineyard from 27 to 45 hectares, including his Vignoble du Rêveur project with his partner Emmanuelle Milan. Since 2020, two hectares have been devoted to the production of vine seedlings, and the estate has acquired its own planting machine, reinforcing its autonomy and mastery of all aspects of the winemaking profession.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Rated 94/100 (Outstanding wine)
About the wine:
From a Grand Cru site traditionally excellent for Gewurztraminer, which Deiss has densely planted with the full range of Alsatian grape varieties, his 2004 Altenberg de Bergheim glows with honey, lily, baking spices, orange liqueur and citrus zest. On the palate, the wine has an underlying density that evokes minerality, which no doubt goes a long way to explaining why a residual sugar level in the triple digits results in a wine that is certainly sweet, but not too sweet. Candied citrus, orange liqueur and marmalade, peach jam, walnut paste, honey and vanilla, along with rich pastry and buttery texture give this wine a pastry character - if you just imagine chalk powders instead of flour. It finishes with remarkable lift and elegance for such a rich wine.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2008 guide) 98/100
Domaine rated (guide 2024) 4*Stars (They represent the excellence of the French vineyard. The best terroirs cultivated by the greatest winemakers. Tasting their wine is always a magical moment)
About the domain :
Mathieu Deiss succeeds his father Jean-Michel at the head of this venerable Bergheim estate. Complantation is still the guiding principle, even for the grands crus. Even though the process is ancestral in the region, it remains little used and divides the winegrowers sharply. The Deisses take this approach one step further, delivering convincing, complex wines with marvellous intensity of flavour and incredible balance. Mathieu has also created the Vignoble du Rêveur from his mother's vineyards in Bennwihr (where he produces some top-flight orange wines). The wines are out of the ordinary for the region, which is a little disconcerting for the consumer, but the result is magnificent. With a few years' hindsight, it's easy to appreciate the precision of the terroir definitions and the ability of these wines to manage their own balance. To be discovered at the estate: the unique experience of geo-sensory tasting, which enables you to understand the relationship between a wine's characteristics and the terroir in which it was born.
Vinous A. Galloni
Rated domain (guide 2023) Recommended
James Suckling
Rated domain (guide 2023) Recommended
Customer reviews
Customer rating
4.5/5
out of 2 reviews
Note and review by M. OLIVIER J. Published on 15/03/2018
See all reviews from this customer
Note and review by M. YANN D. Published on 27/06/2014
See all reviews from this customer
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