Grand Cru

Froehn

Zellenberg

    • Village

      Zellenberg

    Zellenberg, a small wine-making town to the east of Riquewihr and located on a sandstone-limestone hillock, overlooks a beautiful vineyard. With a south-south-east exposure, Froehn is perfectly located on the slopes of the steep hillsides, between 270 and 300m in altitude and covers 14.60 ha.

    It’s a clayey-marl soil from the early Jurassic period, is composed of dark grey schistose marl with fine white limestone beds as well as carbonated and ferruginous nodules.

    Froehn favours Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat grape varieties.

    In his reference book, Médard Barth cites Froehn as one of the best crus of its time.

    Froehn wine stands out with its fruitiness and weight. Its complexity gives it excellent aptitude for ageing.

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    Citation

    The Froehn Grand Cru could be qualified as spherical.

    This Cru pleases the entire palate, inciting all the taste-buds to pure pleasure. The palate body evolves like a funnel. First off with a rather tight and centred attack to then open-up with substance into a generous mid-mouth which encompasses the body’s acidity. One can often find aromatic herbal and infusion notes such as lemon balm or camomile. A mildly bitter sensation introduces a delicate and subtle length marked by the salinity, causing tasters to salivate.

    It’s a highly-distinct terroir which allows each grape variety to find its marks. Muscat and Riesling bear vivacious and charming fruit. Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer are very mature, often rich in sugar, whilst maintaining a light and succulent spirit.

    Romain Iltis
    Meilleur Sommelier de France 2012 & Meilleur Ouvrier de France 2015 

    Consommation

    The Froehn Grand Cru settles rather quickly, in around about 3 to 4 years. It then knows how to comfortably age for about ten years.

    During early vintage: savoury sensations of exotic fruit are delicately developed. Pastry aromas can also be found, notably in Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.

    During late vintage: notes of dried flowers and herbs are enhanced by a certain structural austerity. A light bitterness maintains the wine length.


    Accords

    It’s a Grand Cru which offers many gastronomic possibilities. Its full-flavoured and smooth body matches perfectly with cooked fish or stewed or confit meats: fatty fish en papillote, confit shoulder of veal, meat goulash...  The concentration and tenderness in this type of dish matches with the voluminous body of the wine for complex and highly-flavourful associations.