Belzbrunnen Riesling Vendanges Tardives
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2038
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Foie gras, blue cheese, pear tart
✨ Technical Specifications
The Belzbrunnen lieu-dit, whose name translates to 'beautiful spring' and is historically linked to the Celtic sun god Belenus, is situated on a gentle slope in Bergholtz characterized by sandy, marly-limestone soils. In exceptional years, Domaine Dirler-Cadé harvests these Riesling grapes late in the autumn to craft a prestigious Vendanges Tardives. This late-harvest style allows the grapes to concentrate their natural sugars, often enhanced by the complex touch of noble rot, while retaining the striking, crystalline acidity characteristic of the terroir. The resulting wine is a masterclass in balance, offering a rich, honeyed texture offset by a vibrant, mineral-driven spine.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1871 by Jean Dirler in the southern Alsatian village of Bergholtz, Domaine Dirler-Cadé took its modern form in 2000 following the marriage of fifth-generation vigneron Jean Dirler to Ludivine Cadé. Pioneers of ecological viticulture in the region, the family began converting to biodynamics in 1998 under the guidance of François Bouchet, attaining full Biodyvin and Demeter certification across their 18 hectares of vines. The estate's holdings are distinguished by prime parcels in four Grand Crus—Kessler, Kitterlé, Saering, and Spiegel—alongside celebrated lieux-dits such as Belzbrunnen, Bux, and Bollenberg. Here, steep slopes composed of Buntsandstein pink sandstone, volcanic conglomerates, and marl-limestone are worked by hand and horse-plowed. In the cellar, low-intervention vinification emphasizes gentle pressing, native yeast fermentations, and unhurried aging on fine lees in traditional neutral foudres and stainless steel. The resulting dry Rieslings, aromatic Pinot Gris, structured Gewurztraminers, and precision Crémants deliver intense mineral clarity, textural poise, and profound ageability.
🍇 Grapes
Riesling