Pierre Frick Chasselas, Alsace, France (no added sulphites)

Buttercup yellow, Jean-Pierre Frick’s white wine without added sulphites, offers enticing and altogether unusual aromas of dry sherry, medlars, greengage and fermenting cider apples; the palate, however, reveals excellent tension with slithery acidity.

Food Match: Mushroom risotto, onion tart, pasta and salads

Wine Facts:

Read more about no sulphites added wine labelling here (short read). Find out more about differences between organic, vegan and natural wines here (long read).  

History: Domaine Pierre Frick has been handed down throughout the family for twelve generations and now covers 12 ha of vineyards. It is managed by Jean-Pierre and Chantal Frick, and their son Thomas Frick.

Soils and viticulture: The plots are spread over a dozen predominantly limestone soils. These are very diverse terroirs by their soil and exposure. In 1970 Peter and Annette Frick converted the estate to an organic and holistic approach to the health of the soil and plants excluding the use of herbicides, soluble fertilizers and chemical treatments. In order to increase the vitality of the soil, vines and wines, Jean-Pierre moved towards biodynamic farming and achieved certification in 1981. The grapes for this wine come from a parcel of vines ’Krottenfues’, situated above the village of Rouffach, and is an upper slope of the Grand Cru parcel of Vorbourg- it is East-facing, beneath the yellow sandstone quarries, the soil here is marl/sandstone which combines good aeration with efficient water retention

VINIFICATION:

• Manual harvested
• whole bunch pressing in a pneumatic press
• Indigenous yeast
• Matured on fine lees in old oak barrels for 6-9 months
• No sulphur added