Mader

The Mader domaine is a very small quantity, high quality wine producer based in the picture postcard village of Hunawihr just south of Ribeauville. The family own just over 10 hectares of vineyards, including  prized holdings of vines in the famous ‘Rosacker’ Grand Cru vineyard and also now in the Grand cru Schlossberg. All vineyard work is carried out by hand and since 2005 their son Jerome is now running the estate having studied and gained a Diploma in Oenology. Since returning to the family estate Jerome has also converted all their vineyards to organic viticulture (certified organic since 2007).

Rieslings here are some of the few in Alsace produced in a classic fine dry style built to age. In exceptional years a tiny volume of late harvest ‘Vendanges Tardive’ Riesling is made in a similar fine, elegant style that ages superbly. Jerome is fanatical about quality so yields are kept very low and selections for all wines are extremely strict ensuring the highest quality in every bottle. The entire range of wines from the Mader family taste true to their grape varieties and vineyard origins and all represent fantastic value.

In June 2021 their 2019 Rieslings were both rated among the best of the vintage by Revue du Vins de France magazine who have also ranked the estate among the best of Alsace each year.

2022 Pinot Blanc (Stelvin)
Made from a blend of 15 % Pinot Blanc and 85 % Auxerrois (36 yo vines) whole bunch pressed with natural fermentation with 15% of this wine aged in barrel on fine lees for 8 months. This shows classic white flower and citric aromas leading to a crisp and refreshing palate.
12.91 % Alc/Vol; 2.5 g/L RS; 4.8 g/L TA (tartric acid as all gone through malo)

2022 Pinot Gris (Stelvin)
All from Hunawihr, this Pinot Gris comes from 37yo vines on a heavy and deep clay soil with a bit of limestone. East exposure. The clay brings softness and texture to the Pinot Gris and the deep soil provide lengths. 20% of this cuvee is aged in old neutral oak and 80% in stainless steel.
Good aromatic lift with smoky peach, apple and exotic tropical fruit characters on the nose and palate. The driest Gris we have tasted here yet still round and supple in texture, with wonderfully precise flavour. Great concentration and depth with a tiny residual sweetness in this ripe vintage. The rich texture and cleansing acid balance gives this wine great immediate appeal yet it also has the structure and depth to age mid-term.
14.17 % Alc/Vol; 3.6 g/L RS; 5.02 g/L TA.

2022 Riesling Grand Cru Rosacker (Stelvin and magnums under natural cork)
From 43 to 68 year old vines mostly located near the top of the vineyard. 2022 was a warm vintage delivering surprising freshness for this outstanding Grand Cru vineyard which is home to the famous ‘Clos St Hune’ Riesling from Trimbach. Yield of just 35 hl/ha in the 2022 vintage resulted in this wine of great intensity, finesse and shape with rich, intense citrus fruit with notes of minerality and outstanding length. The wine’s great depth of fruit, structure and minerally acidity ensures that 15 years or more of careful cellaring would be well repaid.
14.02 % Alc/Vol; 2.3 g/L RS; 6.35g/L TA.

2021 vintage: Jerome Mader describes 2021 as “more than just good. Salty, fresh, elegant and never too much. 2021 is a classic vintage that we might ever make again, as climate takes us in another direction. It reminds us of Alsace wines made 30 years ago.”

2021 Pinot Blanc Helfant (Stelvin) - new cuvee now available.
100 % Pinot Blanc. A new cuvee that Jerome is particularly excited about coming from the lieu-dit of Helfant which is located above Rosacker Grand Cru and bordering on to Muhlforst and their vineyard shares the same soil as Rosacker bedrock (shell limestone covered with sandstone). Here the Mader vines are 60+ yo and in 2021 produced at 30 hl/ha. Raised in old oak and with no malo and fermented dry. Pinot Blanc with depth and character we rarely see and with potential to age though looking so good now it is guaranteed not to last very long.
13.4 % Alc/Vol; 2.6 g/L RS; 7.99 g/L TA.

2021 Pinot Gris Grand Cru Schlossberg (Dry) (Stelvin) last vintage
Schlossberg is a south-east facing slope from a steep terraced granite block. It became the first Alsace grand cru in 1975. Mader’s vineyard is east-facing and the highest on the slope from vines over 25 y.o. giving tiny yield. The wine is whole bunch pressed with indigenous fermentation. Aged on lees for 9 months, 1/3 barrel, 2/3 stainless steel. This is an extremely impressive wine and one of the few really dry expressions of Pinot Gris to be found in Alsace. It is a graceful wine with subtle power which builds impressively at the back of the palate.
13.57 % Alc/Vol; 2.3 g/L RS; 7.24 g/L TA.

2021 Riesling Grand Cru Rosacker (Stelvin)
From 60+ year old vines located near the top of the vineyard. 2021 was a cooler vintage for this outstanding Grand Cru vineyard which is home to the famous ‘Clos St Hune’ Riesling from Trimbach. Tiny yields in the 2021 vintage resulted in this wine of great intensity, finesse and shape with rich, intense citrus fruit with notes of minerality and outstanding length. The wine’s great depth of fruit, structure and minerally acidity ensures that 10 years or more of careful cellaring would be well repaid.
13.51 % Alc/Vol; 2.7 g/L RS; 7.88 g/L TA.

2021 Riesling (Stelvin)
This wine also contains almost 10% de-classified Grand Cru fruit from vines around 30 years old in the great Rosacker vineyard. The wine is a blend of several sites of mostly limestone based soil. 2021 has produced a fine dry Riesling with texture and depth. Intense floral and citrus aromas with mineral backing and wonderful acid backbone.
12.94 % Alc/Vol; 3.1 g/L RS; 7.94 g/L TA.

2021 Riesling Burgweg (Stelvin) - new cuvee
Coming from the village of Ribeauville this vineyard is pure Gneiss terroir. This 0.8 ha vineyard was abandoned for 40 years and in 2016 Jerome decided to buy and replant the site with terraced vines which is full south-facing but as the vineyard lies so close to the forest and the start of the valley, the nights are very very cold giving great retention of acidity and making this site a good bet on the future climate. Planted with various massale selection Riesling coming from some of the most famed estates of Alsace which Jerome propogates in his Muhlforst vineyard together with Eric Kientzler and other top vignerons who work together to create a ‘bank’ of beautiful old massale selection vines to replant and renew their vineyard with.
Vinfied in large 600 litre oak (made by the same cooper who works with Clos Rougeard). Fresh and fruity with a big load of minerality. A wine to discover.

2020 Riesling Muhlforst (Stelvin)
Muhlforst adjoins Grand cru Rosacker in the village of Hunawihr and generally has more clay in its marl composition, giving wines of more immediate fruit and depth which drink very well from an early age. An application to create a new category of Premier Cru is currently before the regulatory authorities and Muhlforst is proposed as one of the first of several long-famous lieu-dits to be promoted.
13.5 % Alc/Vol; 4.0 g/L RS; 8.0 g/L TA.

2018 Riesling Berg (sweet) (Stelvin)
Very limited production of this stunning gently sweet wine which was picked as vendanges tardives and comes from the hill bordering the summit of Grand cru Rosacker. The vineyard shares the same limestone/shell base as Rosacker but is cooler due to its height and proximity to the forest. Jerome Mader has de-classified this so it doesn’t carry vendanges tardives classification as he feels that this doesn’t quite compare to the level of sweetness that they have achieved in the past (in 1990 + 2001). Only a tiny amount produced of this remarkably fresh (12%) and very attractive medium-sweet, late harvest wine. Lovely fine fruit intensity, very pure and precise and very long on the palate. With a residual sugar level of 61g/l it’s about half as sweet as a typical Sauternes. And with its vibrant balancing acidity it’s an ideal wine to enjoy at the beginning of the meal as an aperitif, with paté or foie gras, or with scallop, lobster or chicken dishes. It’s also a natural for the cheese platter, particularly with the local cheeses Munster and Tomme d’Alsace.
12.0 % Alc/Vol; 61 g/L RS; 6.6 g/L TA.

2021 Gewürztraminer (Stelvin)
The 2021 Gewürztraminer is sourced in the higher altitudes of Hunawihr (mostly Muhlforst and in 2021 also the entire harvest of Grand cru Rosacker) from clay and limestone soils. Whole bunch pressed with natural fermentation and ageing on lees for 5 months. It has a clear and fresh, pretty, precise and aromatic bouquet of rose water and wild roses with some smoky spicy aromas. Bottled with 22.8 grams of residual sugar, this is a round and semi-sweet Gewürztraminer with good grip and some lovely mineral characteristics.
13.2 % Alc/Vol; 22.8 g/L RS; 4.98 g/L TA.

2019 Gewürztraminer Grand Cru Rosacker (Stelvin)
Made from 23 year old vines on Grand Cru Rosacker, situated on the north side of Hunawihr, is a south east facing slope on a deep limestone ground with high concentration of magnesium and silica. Due to his proximity with the mountain, it is a medium cold terroir (compare to other limestone Grand Cru terroir) that allow a long ripening season without botrytis. Whole bunch pressed with natural fermentation with ageing on lees for 7 months. Shows distinct rose water and lychee aromas, ripe rich and generous with hints of spice. The palate shows fresh vivid fruit with notable freshness and excellent clarity with ample structure. The finish is long complex and moderately sweet (37.8 gms/ltr) showing excellent harmony so typical of Gewurztraminer in this great site.
13.4 % Alc/Vol; 37.8 g/L RS; 5.21 g/L TA.

2018 Gewürztraminer Grand Cru Rosacker (Stelvin)
Notable rose water aromas, fresh and nicely spicy. On the palate this is a very elegant, finessed and salty Gewurztraminer with a nice tannin grip and structure. The finish is long and complex, well structured, and, although it is quite sweet (45 gms/ltr), it is a persistent and expressive Gewurztraminer that is nicely discreet.
12.71 % Alc/Vol; 44.59 g/L RS; 5.32 g/L TA.

2018 Gewürztraminer Vendanges Tardives 500ml
This late harvest selection of 2018 Gewürztraminer is from 44 year-old vines in their holding in lieu-dit Muhlforst in the higher altitudes of Hunawihr (which adjoins Grand Cru Rosacker) from clay and limestone soils. It has a clear and fresh, pretty, precise and aromatic bouquet of rose water and wild roses with some smoky aromas. Bottled with 107 grams of residual sugar, this is a moderately sweet late harvest Gewürztraminer with excellent length and definition.
13.2 % Alc/Vol; 107 g/L RS; 4.7 g/L TA.