Tag: O'Briens

Wine reviews

Sophie Schaal Alsace Riesling [wine review]

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Sophie Schaal

Sophie Schaal’s wines are a recent addition to the O’Briens Wine portfolio, and as this Riesling is included in the 2026 Annual Wine Sale I jumped at the chance to try it.

Despite the Germanic-sounding surname, Sophie is actually from Burgundy. After five years of oenology studies in Burgundy, Sophie and her shiny new Oenology certificate moved to South Africa. Among the amazing scenery and vineyards she met her now husband Julien Schaal from Alsace.

The couple now make wine in both Alsace and South Africa; Sophie focuses on AOC Alsace and WO Swartland, whereas Julien’s wines are from various Alsace Grands Crus and WOs Elgin, Walker Bay and Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Their joint winery in Alsace is in the village of Hunawihr, on the Route des Vins between the better known villages of Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé.

Sophie Schaal Alsace Riesling 2025

Image of wine bottle (sophie Schaal Alsace Riesling)

The vines for this wine are on clay-limestone soils, giving the wines structure and minerality without austerity. Sophie believes in sustainability and follows organic viticulture practices, with no pesticides or synthetic chemicals being used.

The grapes are hand picked and whole-bunch pressed. After being gently pressed, the juice is transferred to tanks for a long, cool fermentation which preserves as many aromatics as possible.

In the glass this is a very light straw colour, typical for dry Riesling. The nose is full of ripe citrus and granny smith apple notes, along with hints of honey.

On the palate those citrus notes expand and make themselves at home – we’re talking lemon, lime and quince. The wine is fresh but juicy, plump but not opulent, mouth-watering but not sharp.

For a young Riesling this is very approachable and very pleasurable, and I highly recommend it.

ABV: 12.0%
RRP: €21.99 down to €19.49
Source: sample
Stockists: O’Briens stores and obrienswine.ie

 

 

Wine reviews

Wine Review: Kuentz-Bas Alsace MosaïK Riesling

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Kuentz-Bas

Like many double barrelled producers in Alsace, Kuentz-Bas was formed by the marriage of two winemaking families – Kuentz and Bas – in 1895. The Kuentz family trace their wine heritage back a whole century earlier so it is the year 1795 which appears on labels.

A big change came in 2004 when the family sold their firm to fellow winemaker Jean-Baptiste Adam. Adam himself is the 14th generation of vignerons in his family and is passionate about the local terroir. He has introduced organic, biodynamic and natural methodologies across the estate. The vineyards total ten hectares in area, including plots with the Grands Crus of Eichberg, Geisberg and Pfersigberg, around the village of Husseren-les-Châteaux, just west of Eguisheim.

The Châteaux referenced in the village name are the ruins of three ruined castles – Dagsbourg, Wahlenbourg and Weckmund – within close promixity of each other, and known locally as Les Trois Châteaux. They also give their name to the senior range in Kuentz-Bas’s portfolio which includes Lieux Dits and Grands Crus. The more modest wine range is La 4ème Tour, “The Fourth Tower”, which includes the MosaïK Riesling below.

Kuentz-Bas Alsace Riesling MosaïK 2018

Kuentz-Bas Riesling Mosaik 2

MosaïK refers to the multitude of soil types that criss-cross the Alsatian vignoble (13 in total) and specifically the four on which the vines for this wine are grown: marl, clay, limestone and loess. The wine is therefore a Riesling blend.

And it’s unmistakeably a Riesling – pale in the glass then a nose of lemon and lime, golden delicious apples and hints of bitter almonds. It smells like a natural wine – precisely what that smell is lies beyond my vocabulary, but you know it when you smell it. As it’s a step away from the “normal” fruity flavours of young Riesling that might not suit everyone, but for me it adds an interesting extra dimension to the nose.

There’s fruit in the mid palate but the wine is super dry on the finish, which is almost – but not quite – austere. The pithy texture adds more savoury notes to the ensemble. I drank this wine on its own but I think it would shine brighter with food. It’s a great example of a different style of Alsace Riesling.

  • ABV: 13.5%
  • RRP: €16.95, down from €19.95 until 31st August 2022
  • Source: sample
  • Stockists: O’Briens stores and obrienswine.ie