Changes at Weinbach?

[Tim York]

In the 2013 edition of the Bettane/Desseauve guide, I read - "En 2010, pour des raisons personnelles, Laurence Faller a quitté le domaine sans que le style des vins ne change". My translation would be "In 2010, Laurence F left the estate for personal reasons without any change in the wines' style". It could be read, I suppose, as only applying to 2010 but there more likely interpretation of the words would be that it is permanent.

I haven't read about this elsewhere and it seems to be contradicted by this link http://wineawards.info/en/wineawards/profil/faller/ .

Laurence Faller is the guiding light in the vineyards and wine making cellar so her loss could have a big effect on quality.

Does anyone know the truth?

[Tim York]

Some private information, visits to French wine blogs and the 2013 edition of RVF's guide, which arrived this morning, all seem to confirm that Laurence Faller has indeed left Domaine Weinbach. The wine-maker for the 2011 vintage was Eddy, Catherine Faller's son, and things look set to continue that way.

This all smells of a family row in which Catherine and her son have emerged on top. It is very sad because many people consider that Laurence is one of finest vineyard managers and wine-makers in France and the soul of the estate, whilst Catherine's functions seem to be purely administrative and commercial.

Time will tell whether the estate can maintain the quality with Eddy in charge of wine-making. Meanwhile I hope that Laurence exercises her abundant talents fruitfully elsewhere if she can't be lured back to the Weinbach estate.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Sounds like a real bust-up occurred there Tim, Laurence was Weinbach eh.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

The Wine Spectator should really get with it. In new issue in their piece on Alsace, there is a pic of the family all happy and smiling!!

[David M. Bueker]

A dear friend was just at Weinbach last week. I will ask. Hope to have info soon.

[Mark Lipton]

A dear friend was just at Weinbach last week. I will ask. Hope to have info soon.

Presumably that wasn't Thor.

Mark Lipton

[Tim York]

A dear friend was just at Weinbach last week. I will ask. Hope to have info soon.

At a recent tasting, I asked a man who deals often with Weinbach about the situation and he described the news that the two sisters have fallen out as a "secret de Polichinelle" (roughly = open secret).

It will be interesting to learn what spin they put on the story at the estate. Obviously, if Laurence is visible and active, it could be a sign that things are on the mend.

[David M. Bueker]

It wasn't Thor...

[Charles Weiss]

No knowledge here either, but believe that's around the time she had her baby.

[Tim York]

As a postscript, the April edition of the RVF, which has just dropped into my letter box, has a picture of the three Faller ladies with the caption "Laurence est revenue!" (= "Laurence has returned"). Of the three, Colette looks by far the trimmest and most elegant at present.

Let us hope that Laurence is back permanently and not just for a photo opportunity.

[David M. Bueker]

Last I heard is that Laurence had left for a short period to have a baby and is now back.