The wines of Trimbach, Alsace
An in depth tasting of the wines from this leading Alsace producer

Website: www.maison-trimbach.com 

The Trimbach family can date their winegrowing activities back as far as 1626, and through 12 generations. They’re based in Ribeauvillé (they moved here after the First World War), roughly in the middle of the Alsace wine region, which consists of a narrow strip of vineyards running north to south in the northeastern corner of France, on the German border.

The firm in its current form was developed by Frédéric Emile Trimbach in the latter part of the 19th century. His initials are still used in the official name of the company, and one of Trimbach’s top Riesling cuvées bears his name. 

Trimbach makes a broad range of wines from their own vineyard holdings and also bought-in grapes. The house style is quite a dry one, and they avoid using the Alsace Grand Cru vineyard names which were introduced in the 1970s. The only vineyard designation seen on their wines is with Clos St Hune, which comes from a 1.3 hectare plot near Hunawihr (part of the Rosacker vineyard). This is a dry Riesling that is one of Alsace’s most famous wines, and ages beautifully. 

The other celebrity wine in the portfolio is the Cuvée Frédéric Emile Riesling. At less than half the price of Clos St Hune, it’s the smart buy here, because it is fabulous and also ages brilliantly.

THE WINES 

Trimbach Riesling Réserve 2009
Taut, limey, lemony fruit here. Very precise, fresh and lemony. Dry and clean. 88/100

Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile 2005
Lovely aromatics: full, fresh and intense with lemon and richer melon notes. The palate is dense with some lime fruit and nice acid. Complex and dry with subtle creamy notes on the finish. 93/100

Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile 2002
Dense, complex and pithy with lemon and mineral notes. Dry with lovely precision and some richer crystalline fruit notes. Developing some complexity. 93/100

Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile 2001
Waxy, citrussy, herby nose. Really complex and evolving nicely. The palate has notes of citrus, melon and wax with nice structure and density. Developing very nicely. 94/100

Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile 2000
Taut citrus nose with a savoury, mineral dimension. The palate shows honey and citrus, with some nutty notes. Great acidity and precision here. 93/100

Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile 1999
Quite dry and a little austere. Fresh, pure and lemony with a herbal edge. Long, precise and dry. 92/100

Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile 1989
Beautifully aromatic with notes of honey, melon and apricot, as well as citrus fruit. Open, ripe and thrilling. The palate has a rounded character and shows nuts, apricots and honey. Broad with lovely intensity. 95/100

Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste Hune 2005
Dense, focused and taut with lovely comcentration and intensity. Lemons, limes, minerals dominate. Dry, pure, long and intense. 94/100

Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste Hune 2004
Slightly honeyed nose with intense liminess. Combines richness and freshness. The palate is dense and waxy with melon and lemon fruity notes. A richer style of Ste Hune

Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste Hune 1985
Evolved, complex, nutty nose with some citrus, wax and lanolin notes. Lively and pure. The palate has a savoury, nutty quality and some toastiness, as well as lemony fruit. Very appealing. 93/100

Trimbach Pinot Gris Réserve 2007
Taut and precise with nice fruit and a bit of grapey, spicy richness. 87/100

Trimbach Pinot Gris Réserve Personelle 2005
Rich and grapey with lovely fruit, nice texture and notes of herbs and citrus. A bit of sweetness here. 90/100

Trimbach Gewürztraminer Réserve 2005
Lovely nose of rose petal and Turkish delight. Grapey and textured with lovely balance. 91/100

Trimbach Gewürztraminer Cuvée des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre
Aromatic, rich, grapey and textured. Pretty but not overblown. Lovely depth and subtle rose petal notes. 92/100

Trimbach Riesling Vendange Tardive 2002
Intense, waxy, citrussy nose leads to a bold, dense, waxy palate with textured, spicy citrus fruits and some melony richness. 94/100

Trimbach Gewürztraminer Vendandge Tardive 2005
Rich, grapey and textured with some broad melon and peach notes. Grapey, spicy edge. Very lush and smooth showing sweetness but also nice balance. 93/100

Trimbach Gewürztraminer Sélection de Grains Nobles 1989
Very sweet, open nose with notes of apples, lychees and cream. The palate is bold, dense and sweet with rich grapey notes. Long finish. Sweet and harmonious. 94/100

Trimbach Gewürztraminer Sélection de Grains Nobles 2001
Luscious and rich with notes of grape, peach and spice. Bold, viscous and sweet with lovely intensity and great concentration. 92/100

Trimbach Pinot Gris Vendange Tardive 2000
Very rich, ripe nose is aromatic and spicy with notes of grape and apple. The palate is ripe and sweet with appley fruit and lively acidity. Lovely texture and a spicy bite on the finish. 93/100

Trimbach Riesling Frédéric Emile Sélection de Grains Nobles 2001
Complex, spicy and lively nose with citrus fruit as well as waxy, herby notes. The palate is rich and lively with apricot and citrus notes, good acidity and a long finish. 93/100

Wines tasted 07/11  
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