Mittnacht-Klack Alsace Grand Cru Riesling Rosacker, 1993

When we visited Alsace in June of 1992, we stayed in a bed and breakfast just outside the walls of the story-book medieval village of Riquewihr. The vineyard just outside the windows of our bed and breakfast had roses planted at the end of each row. And it was appropriately named Rosacker Vineyard. I took my morning run each day on the one-lane paved road weaving through the vineyard from Riquewihr to the neighboring village of Hunawihr only a few kilometers away.

There were beautiful smells coming from the vineyards in 1992, and there are beautiful smells coming from this Rosacker Riesling a good 16 years later. The color is a deep gold with good brilliance. The bouquet and flavors are powerful and typical of Alsace Riesling--sea salt, wax, camphor, honey and spring flowers. The wine has a rich, powerful presence on the palate but is dry with razor-fine flavors. The finish is long and deep.