Grande Cuvée Sekt Brut Nature 2016

The grapes for this sparkling wine are grown on volcanic rock with loess overlay and are harvested at the earliest possible stage of ripeness to keep the acids of the base wines stable. The whole grapes are gently pressed and only the cuvée, i.e. the juice of the first pressing, is used. The base wine for the Grande Cuvée was matured in used 350 wooden barrels and lay on its lees for 52 months before it was disgorged in April 2022 and dosed as Brut Nature with a slender 1.2 grams of residual sugar. Only when the dosage is added does the sparkling wine receive a small dose of sulphur.

Strong straw yellow with brilliant reflections and fine perlage.

The 2016 Grande Cuvée sparkling wine from Franz Keller made from 100% Chardonnay is characterised on the nose by 52 months of ageing on the lees. Fine notes of autolysis are complemented by roasted and subtly salted almonds and dried fruit such as yellow apples and cucumbers. In the top note, a gentle sea breeze blows and evokes associations of a dozen oysters.

With a creamy melt in the mouth, the Grande Cuvée is supported by a finely bubbly mousseux. Aromatically complex, it unpacks layer upon layer of brioche on the palate, underpinned by delicate toasted notes of lightly browned and buttered toast with English orange marmalade. Toasted almonds and hazelnuts with a flake of fleur de sel and a distinctive mineral undertone clearly call for white wine glasses and upscale cuisine far from the aperitif situation.