Domaine Trimbach has been producing exceptional dry Rieslings in Alsace since 1626. Their flagship wine, Cuvée Frédéric Emile, is sourced from two Grand Cru sites and remains one of the most famous Rieslings on the planet – highly sought-after by sommeliers and collectors alike.
The 2018 became the highest scoring vintage of Frédéric Emile in the Wine Advocate’s history. It shows notes of Seville orange, pear, field flowers, fenugreek, lemon zest and crushed river pebbles, supported by a creamy mouthfeel and crystalline precision – with a finish that lasts for minutes. Trimbach’s Rieslings are celebrated for their longevity, and this is sure to improve for many years to come.
To see how captivating this estate’s wines are at every price point, try the Trimbach Riesling 2022, which shows ‘gorgeous tension’ and is ‘bouncing with energy’ (Vinous) at just R360.
Currently at the helm of this close-knit family operation is 33-year-old Julien Trimbach, who works alongside his uncle Pierre. The low-yielding old vines that craft the Frédéric Emile overlook the estate and its release is taste-driven, so no effort is spared to ensure that each bottling meets their exacting standards. Every generation has upheld and elevated the domaine, and the wines are better than ever.
Tasting Notes:
Trimbach Cuvée Frédéric Emile 2018
‘A super-elegant dry riesling for the hot and dry 2018 vintage! Brimming with kafir-lime, mirabelle-plum and dried-mint aromas. Great underplayed power on the medium- to full-bodied palate. The concentration seems to build with the chalky minerality at the overwhelming finish! From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.’ – Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com, 98/100
‘From the Osterberg (60%) and a particular Geisberg plot (40%), the 2018 Riesling Frédéric Emile offers a very concentrated, intense and saline nose due to deeper, more clayish soils. Full-bodied, rich and intense yet elegant and refined on the palate, this is a concentrated, persistently saline and powerful Riesling with a long, impressive and powerful finish. The FE has more salt and tension than the 2018 Geisberg and is definitely the more complex wine. Tasted at the domaine in April 2024 and again on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Clos Ste Hune at the beginning of November when the wine was beautifully fragrant, refined and elegant, even pure and precise on the remarkably coolish nose, given that dry and very warm vintage. This is an enormously complex Riesling with a dense and fleshy texture of fully ripe fruits and a firm tannin structure. Promising! 14.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork.’ – Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate, 97/100
‘The 2022 Riesling is from countless vineyards between Scherwiller in the north and the Vallé Noble in the south and mainly based on marl limestone soils. The nose is clear, fresh and intensely aromatic and even displays some Muscat and herbal/stony aromas, which makes it more than just Riesling. On the palate, this is a dry but round and textured, quite rich, intense and powerful yet certainly elegant, savory and stimulating Riesling with food-friendly grip, salts and tension on the crisp finish. 12.8% alcohol. Screw-cap closure. Tasted at the domaine in April 2024.’ – Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate, 91/100
