Julien Meyer Zellberg 2023

Julien Meyer is an Alsace estate now run by Patrick Meyer, who returned to the biodynamic path his father had begun and now farms without herbicides or pesticides, making wine with minimal intervention. Zellberg is a field blend of Riesling and Sylvaner. Riesling brings the aromatic drive and firm acidity, Sylvaner a rounder, more discreet fruit. Alsace's dry, sheltered climate in the rain shadow of the Vosges and its patchwork of limestone, marl and sandstone soils give the wines their tension and mineral character. Made naturally, with wild yeasts and little or no added sulphur, the wine keeps a direct, unmasked expression of the fruit and site. It is pale to bright yellow. The nose is lemon and green apple with white flowers, white peach and pear behind. The palate is dry, light to medium bodied and fresh, with a stony, almost saline minerality and almond on a clean, taut finish. Serve well chilled at 8 to 10 degrees.