Alsace wine producer: Jean Luc Mader, Hunawihr

Vins Mader is run by the Jean-Luc and Anne Mader. The domaine was founded 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 already heavily engaged in all aspects of the work.

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.

Latest visit: 2006

Facts

Jean Luc, Anne and Jérome Mader 13, Grand rue. +33 (0)389 73 80 32
+33 (0)389 73 31 22 (fax)
vins.mader@laposte.net
Riesling Génerique €6
Riesling Rosacker €11
Well crafted, dry, full and elegant. Very friendly. Perfect English. Grands Crus: Rosacker
Lieux-dits: Muhlforst

Selected representative wines 2006

2004 Pinot Gris Firm, elegant aroma with some spicy apricots and only a hint of sous-bois. The taste is fruity and full and not at all sweet. The acidity is fresh, making it perfect on the table. 2002 Riesling Muhlforst Very elegant aroma with the fingerprint grapefruit and minerality of Muhlfort. Perfectly balanced taste with a pure taste of mature grapes, and a long aftertaste with more grapefruit. 2002 Riesling Grand Cru Rosacker. Very deep, complex but closed aroma with roses and citrus. The taste is currently quite acidic, still hiding the compact fruit underneath. Possible at best at 10 years of age. 2004 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Rosacker Big and complex, spicy Gewurztraminer. The taste is big with layers of fruit and fresh acidity. Very young at 2 years, but the sweetness will be integrated after a few more years. This wine provides additional evidence that producers that make firm Rieslings make very attrctive Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris.