Scherwiller Riesling Reserve Prestige 2014 – Domaine Dussourt.

Riesling is known to be a perfect candidate for a long life, and the wine in this review is no exception to that. At 9 years of age it has already shown a beautiful development, but still has a life ahead. We are taking you to France’s Alsace again, for a review of the 2014 Scherwiller Riesling Reserve Prestige, by Domaine Dussourt.

About the Winery

Originally a Burgundian family (around Toulouse), with now quite a name in Alsace. I have never been so pampered by a winery than at Dussourt. This, naturally, in the most positive sense of the word. The smile that you would be greeted with is the one of Paul Dussourt, a charming man who has the biggest heart. The French charm is also translated onto the labels, clear design with logic and somewhat old-fashioned in this case.

The family’s history goes back to the 17th century, when an office of Louis the 14th settled in Chatenois as a royal notary and innkeeper. A century later, François-Xavier Dussourt acquired a winery in Blienschwiller. This marked the birth of what we now know as Domaine Dussourt. Another century later, André and Francine bought Maison Bleger of Scherwiller to settle into and make their wines. In 1987, Paul took over and in 1996 he started modernising the winery. So much so that he made it future proof for the 21st century and the next generations of winemakers.

The Dussourt family now owns 12 hectares of vines, varied between Scherwiller and their original Blienschwiller. The very old terroir of Scherwiller has helped make Domaine Dussourt into a valuable name in Alsace for Riesling. In the cellar, you can see the respect that they uphold for the history of the name Dussourt. They even have an old 18th century vat still in use.

About the Wine

Most of the Scherwiller soils are a mix of gravel and granite, this soil is also the start for this wine. The parcels used for this wine has vines that are over 40 years old. After the grapes were nicely ripe, they pressed the juice very gently. This allows for only the best juice to flow through and become wine. This juice is then settled in a chilly temperature for 24 hours, after which it settles. The fermentation is a slow one, and after this is done, the lees stay in the wine throughout the winter. In February they prefiltered the wine, and two months later you get this wine in a bottle with a label on it. Inside the amount of tartaric acid is a whooping 7,70 g/l, which is high but not surprising for Alsace Riesling. With 4 g/l of total reducing sugars, this Riesling balances out to be dry.

This 2014 was purchased in 2015, when it was just a baby. We bought two cases and drank them over a course of 9 years. The last one sitting in our cellar still, waiting to be devoured. It was naturally stored horizontally at a constant relatively chilly temperature.

On the colour we note medium lemon. Aromatically it is obviously developing, but still with plenty of freshness and lively fruit to not be considered ‘fully developed’. It consists of a, to be expected, mix of minerality, flint, petroleum, fresh peach, citrus fruit, orange zest and surprisingly floral. Floral in the sense of orange blossom. As mentioned previously, this wine is dry with a medium + Riesling acidity. We note a Riesling acidity as it has that typicality to it that can only be described as simply Riesling. While being on the higher spectrum of acidity, it does not make an offense to your palate. Rather, it cleanses your palate to be enriched with Alsatian foods afterwards.

Pair this well aged Riesling with Choucroute and or Baeckaoffa or simply as an aperitif. We award this beautiful Riesling with a 92-point DWA Score.

This wine is reviewed by our own Benjamin Roelfs. The wines of Domaine Dussourt can be purchased at the winery.

Price:                          €20

Taste date:                September 2023

Score:                         92/100 DWA Score

Website:                    Domaine Dussourt