2002 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile

Made from grapes culled from the Geisberg and Osterberg grand crus, Trimbach's Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile is believed by many wine lovers and experts all over the world to have only one problem. That is, having the even more mythical Riesling Clos Ste.Hune under the same family ownership, which fatally removes some of the spotlight from Frédéric Emile, undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest dry Rieslings. At 12.9% alcohol, 8.2 g/l total acidity, 3.14 pH and only 4 g/l residual sugar, the 2002 opens with a bright, gold-tinged straw-yellow color followed by scents of ripe pear, lime, blood orange, Serrano pepper and lemongrass. The 2002 is not an especially thick or big wine, yet it is precise and poised, offering good texture and balance to the smooth stone fruit, almond and mineral flavors, with sneaky concentration and a long finish. The product of a difficult, wet vintage, the 2002 Frédéric Emile will never make anyone forget the amazing 1990, but it’s a very successful wine in its own right. 91/Drinking window: 2015-2022.

--Ian D'Agata