Alsace wine producer: Xavier Wymann, Ribeauvillé

There are few producers that make such impressions as the young, enthusiastic, innovative, small-scale entrepreneurs who one comes across by chance.

Jean-Luc Schaeringer became a wine producer far too early. When his uncle Paul Wymann suddenly passed away in 1996 young Jean-Luc was the only possible successor. He left his university studies in order to learn more about winemaking. Today he manages, more or less alone, 7.2 ha of excellent land with an annual production of some 30 000 bottles. To help him, is his uncle Jean-Paul who, after having had a small restaurant in Paris for 30 years, returned to manage the simple tasting room and sales. Xavier Wymann is named after the firm's founder, Paul Wymanns grandfather.

Ribeauvillé has, in addition to its three Grands Crus, several excellent Lieux-dits. Jean-Luc Schaeringer has land on Steinacker (stony alluvial deposits for Riesling), Trottacker (brown, clayey marl with pebbles for very ripe Pinot Gris), Haguenau (calcareous marl with thin topsoil facing east) and Weinbaum from which Wymann, Louis Sipp and others make Pinot Blanc. However, the new jewel is the Grand Cru Schlossberg, located 10 km south in Kientzheim.

Like the lion's share of the new generation of producers Jean-Luc Schaeringer works ecologically oriented; production is certified under both the Agriculture biologique (AB) and TYFLO. An important principle is to build a natural flora in the vineyards which in turn can accommodate a natural fauna. This reduces the risk of insect infestation and chemical insecticides have been phased out completely. The natural vegetation also prevents erosion and rot, keeps yields low and thus the quality up.

The range of wines is small, only nine products appear on the list. But more important is that each wine is made with great care. One can hope that more may learn to know Jean-Luc Schaeringer and Maison Xavier Wymann.

First visit: 2009
Lst visit: 2011: The wines just get better ad better!

Facts

Jean-Luc Schaeringer 41 rue de la Fraternité, Ribeauvillé +33 (0) 389 73 66 83
vins.wymann@yahoo.fr
Riesling Steinacker €6.50
Riesling Hagenau €8.50 Fairly full-bodied, well balanced wines with profound character. Genuinely friendly and welcoming. Not English. Grands Crus: Schlossberg
Lieux-dits: Haguenau, Steinacker, Trottacker, Weinbaum, Weissengrund

Representative wines 2009

2007 Muscat Open aroma with all the typical features: crushed grapes, fresh mint and strawberries. Fine, well-structured palate with fresh, juicy strawberries, and a long dry finish with some alcohol. 2007 Riesling Steinacker Restrained, young aroma with a whiff of flint. Very fruity, yet young and zesty taste with a great bite. A pinch of sugar can be detected at present, but that will will soon be integrated and add to savoury complexity. 2007 Pinot Noir Pleasent and welcoming, generous spicy aroma with vanilla and raspberries. Fruity, spicy taste with amazing body, dark berries and an acidity that makes the wine perfect on the table. A pleaser! 2007 Pinot Gris Trottacker Pure, very young, charming and fruity fragrance. The taste is a textbook example of clean, classic Pinot Gris with apricots, nuts and a nice acid as well a balancing acidity. A full-bodied wine that nonetheless feels light and elegant.