Domaine Barmes Buecher Riesling ‘Hengst’ Grand Cru 2019

Domaine Barmès‑Buecher was created in 1985 by François Barmès and Geneviève Barmès (born Buecher) with vineyards that had been in their families since the 17th century. The family Domaine in Wettolsheim, Alsace, founded when Geneviève (née Buecher) and François Barmès combined their long‑held family vineyards in 1985. In 1995 the vibrant couple converted the Domaine to biodynamics, working in accordance to the cycle of the planets and the moon. The goal was simple: to encourage the vines to return to their natural state of being that had been masked by modern man’s agriculture and to encourage each vine to find harmony and balance.

Barmès Buecher is a Domaine with a unique energy and harmony. Geneviève and François, aided by their children, Sophie and Maxime, have sixteen hectares of vines that each year produce wines that respond to the ebb and flow of Mother Nature and which always carry the Barmès signature. A bottle of Barmès Buecher is the result of carefully orchestrated work that occurs day in and day out 365 days a year with the sole goal of extracting the truest and purest expression of varietal, vintage, and terroir. Wines prioritise purity, balance and varietal expression; low yields and meticulous vineyard work produce concentrated, terroir‑driven bottlings with a focus on harmony rather than heavy manipulation in cellar.

Biodynamically certified since the 2001 vintage. Vineyard holdings are spread across several communes near Colmar (Wettolsheim, Wintzenheim, Turckheim, Eguisheim) and include parcels on Grand Cru sites. Soils are varied (including granite) and the domaine keeps yields low to concentrate flavour and reflect site character.

Hengst Grand Cru: Hengst is an Alsace Grand Cru vineyard located in the commune of Wintzenheim, on steep, south to south‑east facing slopes just southwest of Colmar. Its altitude ranges roughly from 270–370 metres and the site benefits from a dry, warm Colmar microclimate with good sun exposure. ”Stallion” (“Hengst”) is a very fitting name for this rustic Grand Cru wine from Wintzenheim. 40 year old vines are south facing and planted on rich marl-limestone soils. The wines produced here are powerful, structured and spicy with good ageing potential.

Winefront

Domaine Barmes Buecher Riesling ‘Hengst’ Grand Cru 2019 – 95 / 100 Points

Floral, spicy, yellow fruit, candied lemon peel, a stony ‘mineral’ thing. It’s juicy, going into tropical with pineapple and crystallized ginger, cool clean acidity that’s present, but kind of unobtrusive, ripe orange, and a savoury finish of excellent length. Powerful, but still fresh and poised. Succulent. Delightful.

– Gary Walsh