Soil Therapy
Soil Therapy Elsbourg Riesling 2023
Soil Therapy Elsbourg Riesling 2023
An intensely aromatic Riesling with concentrated notes of bergamot, orange blossom and ripe citrus, supported by a subtle hint of petrol. The palate is dense, juicy and radiant, with generous dry extract, firm tension and a long, energetic finish
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Grape variety: Riesling
Terroir: Elsbourg, a lieu-dit in Hattstatt, Alsace
Fermentation: Aged for 21 months in natural yeast in small oak barrels
1200 bottles produced
Notes from Thomas, the winemaker:
Elsbourg is special lieu-dit with an unusual location and orientation. Surrounded by flatland
and connected to its west to the main vineyard only by a thin strip of land, it is a kind of resurgence
of Muschelkalk limestone, a rocky fossil-rich soil that is not found in the surrounding vineyards.
Another geological magic trick like many others in Alsace !
The main part of the hill, where this plot is located, faces north-west, which is very rare in the
region.
The surrounding vineyards of Hattstatt are not really known for making great rieslings, as the soils
are generally heavier while also being quite low in altitude, which makes them more suited to
Gewurztraminer or Pinot. Elsbourg is the most noticeable exception here, with its rocky
limestone soil and cooler exposure.
Here the grapes are always small and highly concentrated, and reach a beautiful ripeness. By the
time we pick them the skins are very golden and the aromatic intensity is always striking. High
ripeness yet great balance suited for dry wines.
Also unusual is the winemaking, which is done in small oak barrels, and the ageing time of 21
months. The result is a riesling with a concentrated and intense profile, highly aromatic, with a
radiating and juicy mouthfeel but also enough dry extract to tickle the palate and energize the finish.
It is not playing around the typical varietal aromas of Riesling but feels rather like an essential oil :
aromatically very concentrated, and very dense in the mouth. Bergamot and orange blossom give
the main character, and just the slightest petrol note gives an obvious hint of the variety.
Time in the bottle will undoubtedly bring more subtlety and detail, as well as highlighting the
mineral structure, yet it is absolutely delicious now.
Soil Therapy
Founded in 2017 by Thomas Larmoyer, Soil Therapy is a terroir-driven micro-négociant at the forefront of Alsace’s new wave of winemaking. The project works closely with artisan growers practising organic and biodynamic farming, sourcing grapes from a small selection of lieu-dits chosen for their distinctive soils and individual expressions of place.
Sylvaner and Riesling form the heart of the range, which includes both single-vineyard cuvées and blends. The wines are made with a minimal-intervention approach, using spontaneous fermentations, co-fermentation in blends, extended ageing, old barrels and minimal sulphur additions. These methods are intended not to impose a house style, but to preserve the character of each site.
The resulting wines are precise, textural and mineral-driven, with the bone-dry finishes that have become a defining feature of Soil Therapy. They offer a fresh and contemporary interpretation of Alsace, distinct from the broader and sweeter styles historically associated with the region. Production remains deliberately limited, with every cuvée made in micro-batches.
A self-taught winemaker, Thomas previously worked as Sales Manager at Domaine Ostertag, one of Alsace’s pioneering biodynamic estates. That experience continues to shape Soil Therapy’s commitment to authenticity, precision and transparent expressions of terroir.