“As far back as family memories go, the Schoelhammer, at the heart of the historic Schoenenbourg vineyard which overlooks Riquewihr, has always been amongst our most favoured single vineyards. From 2007 we decided that the Riesling from this exceptional site, traditionally vinified apart, also merited to be bottled separately. Schoelhammer seeks to reveal the unique character of a dry, mineral Riesling from a marl-rich terroir, deep and suave in style, and which takes time to express itself fully.” -Etienne Hugel
Terroir: Produced from the finest plot of the Hugel estate in the heart of the grand cru Schoenenbourg vineyard. Schoelhammer covers a mere 30 rows of vines dedicated to Riesling and organically farmed. Schoelhammer’s specific vines grow on Triassic Keuper marl soil from the secondary era (marine sediments, c.200 million years) with a 45% clay content, planted at an altitude of 1000 feet, facing due south, on a slope that averages 25 degrees. Harvest date : 11 October 2007.
Vinification: The grapes are hand harvested and taken in small crates to the press which is filled by gravity, without any pumping or other mechanical intervention. After pressing, the must is decanted for a few hours, then fermented in temperature-controlled barrels (at 64°F). The wine is racked just once, before natural clarification during the course of the winter. The following spring, the wine is lightly filtered just before bottling, and the bottles are then aged extensively in Hugel’s cellars until released for sale.
The bouquet is deep, complex and very expressive, while the palate is overwhelmed by myriad tastes and sensations. The wine flows over the palate, filling the mouth with a richly generous yet invigorating freshness. The spirited character and breeding of Riesling is allied to the complexity, depth, richness and minerality of the unique Schoelhammer terroir, the quintessence of the Schoenenbourg.
Technical Details
Score: 99 Points
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