Frederic Emile Riesling

Luminous straw-yellow. Complex, mint-accented aromas of nectarine, tangerine and powdered stone, plus a hint of licorice. Then bright, juicy and dense, showing outstanding acid-sugar balance and a penetrating juiciness to the stone fruit and herbal flavors. Finishes multilayered and very long, displaying noteworthy clarity and limy cut on the saline finish. Wine lovers everywhere know just how great Frédéric Emile Rieslings can be, but this looks to be a real knockout in the making; I absolutely love this wine’s mineral drive and precision. It pulls off the neat trick of being both very ageworthy and also lovely to drink right now. I was happy to know that my palate was still working after an extremely long day of tasting when I told Pierre that in this vintage of Frédéric Emile I found more of the Geisberg than the Osterberg (in most vintages, the wine is a blend of 60/40 Osterberg-Geisberg, at times even 70/30, but this year it’s more like 55/45) – I.D.

Vinous - September 2017

The lemon-sherbet note here is really beautiful. Then comes a wealth of herbs, ranging from thyme to parsley, with a touch of sea salt, before turning to more floral nuances, such as cherries and almond blossom. The powerful acidity seems to surround the whole mouth and makes this almost like licking a lemon; the unmistakable dryness is all the more enjoyable because of it. Long and very elegant on the finish. Drink now. - J.S.

James Suckling - August 2019

This shows signs of development, with very subtle notes of beeswax and white truffle, but its core is packed with juicy Korean pear, lemon verbena, and orange zest. Crackling acidity holds the firm structure, while sea-salt notes add to the intrigue. It ends with a lip-smacking finish. Taub Family Selections. —A.Z.

Wine Enthusiast - November 2023

For a wine with ample bottle age, this shows impressive freshness. Still tightly wound, with razor-edged acidity cutting through crisp apple, melon and peach flavors. Briny, pure and crackling through a vibrant, lengthy finish marked by saline and petrol. Drink now through 2032. 2,250 cases made, 1,250 cases imported. -K.B.

Wine Spectator - September 2023

The 2016 Riesling Frédéric Emile reveals a clear, bright and slightly flinty bouquet with citrus aromas and delicate intensity. Round and elegant on the palate, this is a powerful, intense and complex cuvée with persistent salinity and remarkable phenolic structure. Although this is a rather crystalline and filigreed Frédéric Emile, it still needs some time to show its best talents. This has 13.2% stated alcohol plus almost two grams per liter of residual sugar. Tasted at the domaine in May 2022. -S.R.

Wine Advocate - March 2023