Bright, bold, and perfect for summer. We finally have new releases from Max Woerly and his 8 hectares in the beautiful Dambach-la-Ville. Among the arrivals are two new pet-nats, the latest editions of some old favourites, and a couple of one-shot cuvées thanks to the 2021 conditions.
Maxime's family have deep roots in this historic Alsatian village, farming here since 1557. Crops were sold to merchants until the first family bottling, in 1947. Max works across a 1km radius on the eastern slopes of the Vosges Mountains, with everything over solid granite and granitic sandy soils.
Organic conversion of the family parcels began in 2010 when Maxime returned home from his studies, and more recently he's been experimenting with biodynamics and even zero-input agriculture in the Grand-Cru Bernstein parcel. The efforts are bearing beautiful fruit.
In the cellar, Max's efforts are on working as simply as possible to channel what he sees as 'true Alsace': fruit and acidity. Macerations are short and gentle, ageing is in stainless steel, Burgundy barrels or large Alsace tuns. The resulting wines have a brilliant purity and balance, endlessly enjoyable.
We have the following wines from Maxime now available:
AVAILABLE NOW
SPARKLING
NEW 2020 - Cremant Extra Brut - Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc
Now made by topping up the 2020 base wine with the must of 2021, allowing for lower alcohol and more acidity. Two years on lees before disgorgement.
NEW 2021 - Pure Pet Nat - Sylvaner, Pinot Gris
The first time Max has made proper pet-nat, a success! Pinot Gris over solid granite, Sylvaner from clay-heavy granite.
NEW 2021 - Rose Pet Nat - Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir
Majority Riesling from 2021, topped up with the fermenting juice of Gewurtz and Pinot Noir from 22.
WHITE / SKINS
NEW 2021 - Auxerrois - 1L - Auxerrois
A new cuvée, from sandy granite at the bottom of the hill. A parcel that normally struggles to finish its sugars, but Max racked off the lees before bottling to transform the residual into a little trapped CO2. In the party format for sharing.
NEW 2021 - Muscat Granit - Muscat
A one-off thanks to 2021 being so cold a year, meaning low bitterness in the Muscat. 10 day de-stemmed maceration, fermentation and ageing over 18 months in Burgundy barrels, with a gentle oxidation. Picked from the Bernstein parcel. Steep, solid granite
NEW 2021 - La Patte de Malo - Pinot Gris
Also from Bernstein on solid granite. Another one-off, that Max can probably only make once every 5 years. Basket pressed to 1000l Alsace tuns, with 300ml space for oxidation. 18 months ageing. There's a pun here about malolactic fermentation, and the paw of Max's cat: Malo.
NEW 2022 - Why? (Gauthier Zeppfel)- Riesling, Pinot Gris
Max's best friend, Gauthier, helps him in the vines with biodynamic treatments has made his first wine from his own micro parcel in Max's cellar. He's releasing it through Max for the debut vintage. Two tanks: direct-pressed Riesling, and Riesling berries infused in direct-press Pinot Gris. Assembled in barrels for 6 months ageing. TIny quantities available.
NEW 2018 - Riesling Bernstein - Riesling
The Riesling in the Bernstein parcel is on the front-line of Max's experiments with zero-input agriculture. Aside from trimming and pruning the vines, the Riesling sees no treatments at all. Basket-pressed to Burgundy barrels for 3 years ageing.
ROSE
NEW 2021 - Le Vin en Rose - Muscat, Pinot Gris De-stemmed and macerated for just 1 week with concerns after mildew, Max is really happy with the acidity & fruit: true Alsace! 12 months in steel tanks.