Domaine Barmes-Buecher Riesling Clos Sand

The smoky lees character and wet-stone minerality make this medium-bodied dry riesling incredibly sleek and focused. Minerally finish with great Amalfi lemon freshness. How can a dry white wine with less than 12% alcohol taste this dense and also be this pure and crystalline? Bone dry. A very late picking from this high-altitude site with granitic soil. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Astonishingly complex citrusy nose with lots of Amalfi lemons and mandarin oranges. Enormous stony and flinty concentration that may be too much for some, but I find extremely original and exciting. Lightning-strike finish. Limited production from a steep vineyard on granitic soil that is almost surrounded by forest. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

This expresses a pleasant leesy reduction, marked by flint and white raspberry, but with air it shows more of its elegance. Orchard blossom and stone-fruit flavors are flanked by hints of sea salt that extends on the finish.

Cremige sanfte Nase mit viel reifem Apfel. Feine Zitronentöne. Tarte Tatin in feiner Form. Mädesüss und Estragon. Sehr eigenwillig und erinnerungswürdig. Kühle Frische. Sehr guter Spannungsbogen. Am Gaumen ist er deutlich grüner am Gaumen, als in der Nase. Mangold am Gaumen mit feiner Bitterkeit, die dem ganzen Geschmacksbild dient. Origineller guter Riesling mit Spiel und Finesse.

Intense wild herb and Amalfi lemon aromas with hints of licorice and flint. Incredible crushed rock minerality on the sleek and daringly austere palate. So expressive of this unique steep hillside surrounded by forest. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Geneviève Buecher and François Barmès established their estate in 1985 by joining the vines of each respective family who had held land there since the 17th century, near the village of Wettolsheim. Today Domaine Barmès-Buecher spreads over 17 biodynamically farmed hectares, scattered over 7 terroirs including 3 Grands Crus: Hengst, Pfersisberg and Steingrubler. This clos sits on a 40-50% granite mica slope of 350 to 400m, overlooking the village of Wettolsheim. After a native ferment, this spent 10 months on lees. There's a waxen honeyed stone fruit note that pervades this dry, lighter riesling, with shavings of apricot skin, tangerine, crab apple pinning in the sides, and lingering on the finish. A severe and uncompromising look at the site, and one purists should enjoy. (Treve Ring).

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The intense flinty note somewhat masks the Amalfi-lemon aroma on the nose, but this is just a sign of the wine’s extreme youthfulness and slowly blows off with aeration. In spite of having the typical ripeness for the vintage, this is sleek, racy and salty with a long, crystalline finish. Excellent aging potential. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2024.

Minerality meets sticky wood on the nose of this wine, with an intriguing hint of cinnamon. The palate is lean and nervy, driven by slate and lemon-pith notes. A much-needed creamy, lemon-yogurt character kicks in on the finish and lasts a while. Layla Schlack

Bright young straw colour. Aromatic and intense nose with fine layers and complexity some creamy lees derived aromas with ripe yellow fruit, white flower and hazelnut. Rigorously bone dry with a healthy freshness, nice layers, ripe fruit but steely and mineral with good tension and persistency.