While Burgundy Grand Crus now demand three- to four-figure prices, Alsace Grand Cru remains the ultimate insider buy—delivering benchmark, collector-grade prestige for well south of $80. This isn't a private collection resale, either; it’s a direct purchase from the West Coast importer straight from the estate. This 2019 Josemeyer 'Hengst' Riesling (bone-dry) comfortably goes toe-to-toe with Titans like Trimbach’s 'Cuvée Frédéric Emile' and Zind-Humbrecht’s 'Clos Windsbuhl' for a fraction of the price!
Domaine Josmeyer is an absolute titan of biodynamic viticulture and the benchmark for bone-dry, gastronomic Riesling. Situated in Wintzenheim, the estate farms 50-year-old vines in the prime "heart" of Hengst—a site famous for its deep Jurassic marl and limestone soils. Known as the "Stallion" for its muscular power, Hengst can easily overpower lesser producers. But sisters Céline and Isabelle Meyer tame this raw horsepower through native fermentations in century-old foudres, marrying Hengst’s signature muscle with pure, crystalline elegance.
With a decent amount of bottle age, this 2019 library release has transformed from a wild stallion into an elegant, radiant thoroughbred. Broad and mouth-coating, it opens with ripe yellow peach, crushed white flowers, candied citrus peel, and a killer note of savory petrol. A thrilling whip of lime-zip acidity and wet-stone minerality cuts through the concentration, driving into a long, chiseled finish. For true Riesling fanatics, one bottle will simply not be enough—lock in your stash before these final three cases disappear.
S’Gelt! (Cheers!)
