Alsace wine producer: Jean-Marc Bernhard, Katzenthal

Fréderic and Anne-Caroline Bernhard is young couple that run Jean-Marc Bernhard with profound oenological skill and irresistible charm who put in all effort possible to succeed in a demanding business. The have 9.5 ha of wines, 4 ha out of which are spread over 6 Grand Cru of very different character.

The Grands Crus are the granitic but restrained Wineck-Schlossberg (Katzenthal), the calcareous Florimont (Ingersheim), the succulent Schlossberg (Kientzheim/Kaysersberg), the marly and sun-drenched Mambourg (Sigolsheim), the superb Furstentum (Kientzheim) and the lively Kaefferkopf (Ammerschwihr).

While Bernhard makes Riesling from Wineck-Schlossberg and Schlossberg, Pinot Gris from Furstentum, while Gewurztraminer is offered from Florimont, Kaefferkopf and Mambourg. It is very interesting to see how well Fréderic Bernhard manages to express these terroirs despite the fact that Gewurztraminer has almost overwhelming varietal characteristics.

Fréderic Bernhard is very skilled at taking care of the potential and the characteristics of the different terroirs. At more modest levels, the wines of Jean-Marc Bernhard are very reliable, consistent and very good representatives of the grape variety.

Latest visit: 2006

Facts

Frédéric and Anne-Caroline Bernhard 21, Grand rue. +33 (0)389 27 05 34
+33 (0)389 27 58 72 (fax)
jeanmarcbernhard@online.fr
Riesling Génerique €5.50
Riesling Wineck-Schlossberg €10
Traditional, full wines with class. Welcoming and pleasant. Very good English. Grands Crus: Florimont, Furstentum, Kaefferkopf, Mambourg, Schlossberg, Wineck-Schlossberg
Lieux-dits: Hinterburg

Selected representative wines 2006

2004 Muscat Tradition Pure and dense aroma, which is not overwhelming. The taste is very well structured and has very good acidity and depth of flavour. The vines are 40 years old and the wine is composed of 60% Muscat a petis grains and 40% Muscat ottonnel. 2004 Riesling Vielle vignes Powerful aroma with some overtones of mint. Young and well proportioned, good fruit and long-lasting acidity. A wine for immediate consumption but with a potential to develop for another fives years. 2004 Riesling Grand Cru Wineck-Schlossberg Still tight and young, the aroma has many layers of fine fruit and minerality. Pure taste with rich fruit, good structure and superb balance. A long, promising aftertaste. 2005 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Kaefferkopf Very elegant aroma with classic elements of the variety. Focused and elegant, not overly sweet taste with all the vitality that Kaefferkopf offers.