Jean-Baptiste Adam
Riesling Wineck-Schlossberg Grand Cru – 2018
Region: FRANCE - ALSACE
Jean-Baptiste Adam
For more than 400 years, Jean-Baptiste Adam and his family have been grape growers and winemakers in Ammerschwihr. Throughout the centuries the Adam family has farmed vineyards, made wine, sold wine locally and sold wine in foreign lands. They survived the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), the Valois and Bourbon dynasties, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic wars, annexation by Germany and back to France, WWI, WWII, famine and disease.
Jean-Batiste V joined the winery in 1982, at the age of 21, after finishing his studies of wine, enology, and marketing. In 1996, Jean-Baptiste took over full management of the property from his father, Jean-Marie. Soon after taking charge of the company, he modernized the winery and created a processing and storage facility for the production of Crémant. In 2003, he converted the vineyards to biodynamic agriculture wholeheartedly. Today, he is considered a leader of biodynamic farming practices in Alsace.
Jean-Baptiste’s daughter, Laure, is the 15th generation to work in the family business. Armed with a BS in Viticulture and Enology, a Wine and Commerce license, and a master’s degree in Wine Management & Marketing, she is an integral part of the business.
Jean-Baptiste Adam produces wines of elegance, balance, minerality and longevity.
The Wine
Vineyard Profile
Wineck-Schlossberg sits at the end of the valley, sheltered from the prevailing winds.
- Exposure: South-Southeast facing slopes
- Soils: Decomposed granite (muscovite & biotite micas) bedrock; light soils rich in nutrients
- Vines Planted: 1976
Harvest Notes
- Nutrient-rich soils lead to early ripening
- Hand harvested
- Whole cluster pneumatic pressing
- Settling at 50ºF overnight
- Fermented in stainless steel tanks at 68ºF
- Aged 8 – 12 months in century old French oak casks
- Aged minimum 18 months in bottle
Winemaker's Notes
Wineck-Schlossberg is one of the best “Grand Cru” for the Riesling grape variety. It’s such a beautiful crisp wine. Light yellow robe. The nose is an explosion of pink grapefruit. A powerful smooth attack on the palate, with refined citrus notes that reveal all the finesse of this wine. Lemon zest on the long and impressive finish. The finesse is enhanced through sumptuous and fairly latent acidity. The wine gains in intensity, aided by hints of iodine and white spices from the granite soil.
Pair with seafood and fresh fish.
Wine Summary
100% Riesling; alcohol: 13.6%; Wineck-Schlossberg Grand Cru vineyard; South-Southeast slopes protected from prevailing winds; decomposed granite soils rich in nutrients; hand harvested; gentle whole cluster pressed; cold settling 50ºF; fermented in stainless steel tanks at 68ºF for several months; aged 8-12 months in century old French oak casks; bottle aged 18 months; Certified Organic and Biodynamic by Ecocert & DEMETER.
Technical Information
- 100% Riesling
- Alcohol: 13.6%
- Total Acidity: 3.70 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 5.63 g/l
- Certified Organic and Biodynamic by EcoCert and DEMETER
Reviews
93 Points
On this wine’s shy nose, hints of summer blossom and tropical overtones dissipate as quickly as they appear. The palate gives a lovely picture of freshness and verve, with a juicy, flowing body anchored in zesty lemon and orange that reside in a concentrated core of freshness. There is something cool and cooling about this wine. The finish is dry and zesty.
Wine Enthusiast, November, 2020
General Info
| Country | France |
| Region | Alsace |
| Appellation(s) | AOP ALSACE – AOP CREMANT D’ALSACE- AOP ALSACE GRAND CRU -AOP VENDANDES TARDIVES- AOP SELECTION DE GRAINS NOBLES |
| Proprietors | Jean-Baptiste Adam, Laure Adam |
| Founded | 1614 |
| Winemaker | Mathilde Jaegler and Philippe Ruhlmann |
| Annual Production | 50,000 to 66,000 9L cases |
| Farming (Sustainable, organic, biodynamic) | Certified Biodynamic DEMETER since 2007, Certified Organic by EcoCert France |
