Trophies and Prizes TOUR – Pierre et Frédéric BECHT winery – Alsace – FRANCE

Grand Prix du Jury 2021 edition

Focus on Pierre & Frédéric BECHT winery & 2015 Riesling Sélection de Grains Nobles

View on the vineyards @domaine Becht

 

Stage in France, more precisely in Alsace, at the Pierre and Frédéric Becht estate,

Winegrowers from father to son, for four generations, in the pretty Alsatian village of Dorlisheim, near Strasbourg and Obernai.

Becht team operates, in sustainable viticulture, an area of 20 hectares divided between the vineyard of Dorlisheim (10 hectares) and the place called Stierkopf in Mutzig (10 hectares). The Estate produces a wide range of AOC; Crémants, still white, rosé and red wines, Late Harvest, Sélections de Grains Nobles and Eau-de-vie from its orchards.

Frédéric BECHT, at the head of the family estate, acts as a true “transmitter of wine and living heritage”. Attentive to both the vine, the seasons and nature but also interested in new technologies, the daily actions of his team aim to respect the terroir and allow it to express itself as faithfully as possible during the tasting.

In 2021, Riesling 2015 Sélection de Grains Nobles won

the supreme distinction, Le Grand Prix du Jury 

@strasevents

 

Frédéric is a regular at the Mondial des Vins Blancs Strasbourg because from the end of the 90s, the estate offered its samples of white wines to the Riesling competition of the world of the time.

In October 2021, it is a consecration for the estate with the announcement of the results live on FB: Le Grand Prix du Jury is awarded to it for the Riesling 2015 Sélection de Grains Nobles; this means that it received the best score, all categories combined, of the 2021 edition with, let’s remember, at the tasting, no less than 70 experts from more than 20 countries.

Frédéric describes this exceptional wine for us:

“Beautiful intense gold color.

Very solar nose, expressing a great concentration and an aromatic explosion, revealed through, among others, candied pineapple, passion fruit, candied lemon, fresh lemon, notes of thyme, pomegranate, honey …

The aromatic expression and freshness of Riesling are in perfect synergy with the significant sweetness of this wine, which, although presenting a round and intense attack, shows excellent taste balance. On the palate, we find the aromatic concentration of the nose of this masterpiece for lovers of Sélection de Grains Nobles or great wines for laying down.”

And to sublimate it, this very imposing wine will go very well with desserts such as an exotic fruit mousse, a lemon pie, an apple pie, a lemon financier or even a chocolate fondant. Even more original, you can taste this wine with flamed apricots or pineapples.

“The grapes were harvested on the last day of the harvest, October 3, 2015, they were so concentrated and raisined that we did not have to wait for the development of noble rot. Tasting the grapes the richness was intense, the aromas magnificent and the freshness preserved.” specifies Frédéric.

@domaine Becht

The plot from which the grapes come is located in the extension of the Lieu-dit Stierkopf, on a subsoil containing clay, where the vine was able to have a sufficient reserve of water to continue to ripen the grapes. in this particularly dry year 2015. It is then the characteristics of this soil combined with a solar year that are found when tasting this exceptional wine.

  • Frédéric, you were invited to the TV set when the results were announced, how did your team react in Dorlisheim?? 

“It was a wonderful surprise ! The whole family and the Domaine team followed the awards ceremony live, and popped the corks of Crémant (without waiting for my return) ! It was a huge source of pride for everyone, it is the result of hard work and attention from everyone at all times.”

“It’s an honor to have this world-renowned competition “at home”, and a duty for the Vins d’Alsace to take part in it ! The international dimension makes it possible to confront the best in terms of white wine all over the planet, and also to be evaluated by a jury composed by experts from the 5 continents.”

  • Frédéric, you experienced the strength of the media impact of the 2021 edition whether in France or abroad, please tell us about it.

“In the weeks following the results, the phone kept ringing for both reservations and interview requests. Half of the stock of this Riesling Sélection de Grains Nobles was reserved in less than a month , a period during which we have sold as many as since it was first put up for sale in 2017! There have also been many international relays, the name of our Estate has been mentioned dozens of times! Just incredible ! “

  • Regarding the 2021 vintage, in Alsace, in general, the volumes are lower but the quality and aromatic complexity are there. What about Becht?

“Indeed, the vagaries of the weather have reduced the volumes harvested for the 2021 vintage, but to gain in quality ! The cool temperatures in September allowed the grapes to ripen in excellent conditions: their aromas were more preserved than ever. The freshness is present in the wines, they are fresh and crisp, the vinification is also taking place in very good conditions. The aging is still in progress, the bottling is planned for August.”

Bottling in progress @domaine Becht
  • Frédéric, we are very curious to know what your short and mid-terms plans are 2022. Can you let us know ?

“The projects are always numerous, among them, one of the most important for this year 2022, is the installation of new maceration tanks for the Pinot Noirs.

A new plot will also come into production this year, with a grape variety not present on a particular terroir of our wine-growing village, but we will have to wait a little longer before discovering this new cuvée… In the meantime, amateurs can discover our latest novelty : a blend of Riesling and Pinot Gris honoring the place that gave birth to it : Le Rangenberg !

Before trellising the vines @domaine Becht

We continue to plant trees and hedges around our plots to provide refuge for birds, and especially to eat fruit for the greediest among us ! On the same theme, we are continuing to systematize tillage under the row and are developing inaccessible plots to do so.”

 

  • As a historical participant in the Mondial des Vins Blancs Strasbourg, can you tell us more about the white wines that you will be presenting in June 2022?

“For the moment we are still in full reflection, but a framework is beginning to form, the idea will most certainly be to offer wines reflecting our favorite terroir: the Lieu-dit Stierkopf. The quality of the soil and the climate, but also the history of the place is reflected in the wines, that’s what we like to share and make people discover, the recognition of the Mondial will be the icing on the cake.”

Indeed, a touch of strategy in a competition is welcome and Frédéric knows it full well.

Respect for know-how and a deep consideration of the daily gestures of the winegrower’s profession, but also a taste for novelties and innovative bets and this always in harmony with the terroir and nature, this is in a few words the approach of the domain Pierre and Frédéric BECHT determined to win other gold medals if not to keep his title of Grand Jury Prize.

See you, with great pleasure, on June 20 for the announcement of the results !

More about Becht Winery 

FB

https://becht.fr/

Vineyards in chiaroscuro @domaine Becht

Frédérique Pierré 23/04/2022