Kientzler Schoenbourg Riesling has purity and minerality at its heart. Depth and intensity define the palate, with apple, citrus and an off-dry finish. It is balanced with bright acidity.
For over five generations, the Kientzler family have been nurturing vines in Ribeauvillé. A heritage name of the region, their wines are prized expressions of Alsace. Today, the family look after close to 14ha of fruit in the region, encompassing substantial Grand Cru parcels.
Bright straw. Floral, lime and talc-like aromas. Massive on the palate in real Schoenebourg style, with rich, deep, dense orchard fruit flavors that open very slowly and persist nicely on the long, tactile, off-dry finish. Kientzler’s plot of vines is not in the heart of the grand cru where it is steepest, but it’s still in a high-quality spot (about 100-150 yards from the gypsum cave and right along the road). Only 400 bottles made per year, and when I visited the winery in 2016, they had already sold out of it, so I didn’t get to taste it. Therefore, I made sure to visit Kientzler earlier in the year in 2017! I especially like this powerful wine’s sugar/acid balance; it tastes practically dry (8 g/L total acidity and 8.2 g/L residual sugar).
94+ points, Vinous (April 2018)
A stirringly pure notion of ripe lemon on the nose is accompanied by a touch of freshly turned earth. The palate follows suit, with the soaring lift of pure lemon and the grounding notion of beautiful earthiness. This is dry and linear, shapely and concentrated and ultimately very refreshing and totally gratifying. The finish is pure and lasting.
94 points, Wine Enthusiast (December 2017)
The 2016 Riesling Grand Cru Schoenenbourg is the sixth vintage Kientzler produced here. The wine opens discreet but fine and with some smoky, flinty aromas. Very pure and mineral on the palate, this is a very aromatic but clear, intense, very fine and densely textured Riesling from a south-facing but cool terroir that produces fascinating Rieslings with some exotic flavors.
92+ points, Wine Advocate (July 2017)
