Alsace wine producer: Jean Luc Mader, Hunawihr

The domaine was founded by Jean-Luc and Anne Mader in 1981 when the young couple left the cooperative. Today, Mader farms 7 ha, where 0.7 are on Grand Cru Rosacker. The son Jérome is now in charge of the work, which he undertakes with a lot of passion and profound skill.

In the cellar window facing the street, there is a small sign stating "Nos vins sont sec". The house style is firm wines with moderate levels of alcohol. The restrained style means that the Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer are very drinkable already in their youth. With Mader wines, you do not have to what for sugar to become integrated. Of course, the Gewurztraminers are exceptions of this rule.

The Rieslings of Mader need a few years of cellaring. After some 5 years, the youthful acidity takes a step back in favour of the genuine fruit. If you lack the patience to wait for a Riesling Rosacker, seek out a Riesling from the splendid Lieu-dit Muhlforst. In the hands of Mader it offers a very good alternative.

Besides work in the vines and in the cellar, Anne Mader is interesting in writing. She has created and edited a collection of short stories where peoples of all ages have contributed with a text, describing a day when they were 10 years old. It is a charming book and offers a good way to improve your French. She is currently documenting stories from the elderly in Hunawihr, mostly related to wine.

First visit: 2003. Latest visit: 2013.

Facts

Jean Luc, Anne and Jêrome Mader 13, Grand rue. +33 (0)389 73 80 32
+33 (0)389 73 31 22 (fax)
vins.mader@laposte.net
Riesling €8
Riesling Rosacker €14
Well crafted, dry, full and elegant. Very friendly. Perfect English. Grands Crus: Rosacker, Schlossberg
Lieux-dits: Muhlforst

Selected representative wines 2013

Crémant Powerful aroma with mussel shells, toasted sourdough bread, walnuts and various citrus tones. Broad, mouthfilling flavor, fine mousse, lovely acidity and barely perceptible sweetness in the long, savory finish. The quality is created by storage up to three years on lees after the secondary fermentation. 2011 Riesling Generous with lovely aromas of peach, grapefruit and melon. Medium-bodied, serious palate with nice minerality, attractive and dense fruit and balanced and clean aftertaste. 2012 Riesling Grand Cru Rosacker. Very youthful and closed aromas of chalk, ripe apples, white flowers and candied lemon. Tough and tight taste where the fruit is still deeply embedded in powerful acids. Needa a lot of time, at least 5 years, in order to show its potential! 2010 Pinot Gris Grand Cru Schlossberg Expressive nose with gentle oak, smoke and dried exotic fruits. Rich, elegant and dry flavor with a nice balance of acidy and fruit fruit, wrapped in fine oak. Stands up against all kinds of food. A wine in the spirit of Burgundy wines such as Corton-Charlemagne and Bâtard-Montrachet.