The new 2022 vintage from Domaine Weinbach just landed, and we are excited to offer a full line up of their cuvées, including a number of their famous Grand Crus. The estate is nestled near the Schlossberg hill and is one of most historic properties in the region, and many of their vineyards were first planted in the 9th century. The winery was established in 1612 by Capuchin friars and later taken over by the Faller family after the French Revolution, and it has been in continuous operation under the family since then. Known for producing all four noble grapes (Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat) from some of Alsace's most prestigious Grand Crus, Domaine Weinbach is one of Alsace's greatest producers, along with Trimbach, Albert Boxler, and Zind Humbrecht. The wines are some of the most collectible and age-worthy every year, and the 2022 vintage is particularly spectacular. These are ultra-classic examples of Alsace, and fans of aromatic and textural whites will love just about everything from the estate. Below you will find the short list of wines available, but read on further below for more information on the estate and the individual cuvées. The wines range from bone dry to sweet, so check the extra info below each wine to get more information on expected dryness and residual sugar levels.
2022 Vinous Estate Summary: “Domaine Weinbach is an iconic domaine in Alsace. The winery is housed in a former Capuchin monastery in Kaysersberg dating to the early 17th century. The monks farmed 7 hectares/17 acres of vines within the clos adjacent to the house. These were the same varieties farmed by the Faller family today: Riesling, Sylvaner, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. Brothers Théodore and Jean-Baptiste Faller, tanners from Kaysersberg, bought the estate in 1898 and transitioned the family into the wine business. They started bottling their wine in the late 1920s under Château Weinbach. Théo Faller took over after the Second World War and changed the name to Domaine Weinbach. Today the estate is run by Catherine Faller and her sons Théo and Eddy Leiber-Faller. Théo Leiber-Faller joined in the early 2000s and looks after vineyards. Eddy Leiber-Faller, who joined in 2017, oversees winemaking with cellar master Ghislain Berthiaut while splitting the commercial management with his mother. They own 38 hectares/94 acres of vineyards, all within 2.5km of the domaine. The holdings are in the Schlossberg Grand Cru, where they are the largest owner with 12 hectares/30 acres of vines, as well as Furstentum, Mambourg and Marckrain Grand Crus and in the Altenbourg lieu-dit. Catherine Faller told me years ago that the Schlossberg, with its granite rocks, is “like a diamond that cuts the wine.” The wines are amongst the most elegant and poised in Alsace. They are paradigms of varietal expression and age effortlessly. In a way, Domaine Weinbach is the guardian of the Schlossberg and its incisive Rieslings. Today, Weinbach is also a name to be reckoned with when it comes to fine Pinot Noir.
90 points from Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous
"The 2022 Muscat still crackles with a touch of reduction. Only then do honeysuckle and lemon appear, with subtle elderflower in the distance. The palate has far more elderflower than the nose, which is creamy, lemony and light. It's a scented wine with a creamy texture. It shows some pithiness, richer than usual, but dry and bright. (Bone-Dry)"
