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Wine Description for Pinot Noir Clos de la Faille AC 2023 by Domaine Albert Mann
- Colour & Appearance
- Transparent, luminous ruby red – clear and possessed of an almost meditative brightness that already hints at the wine’s elegance and finesse.
- Nose
- The 2023 opens with subtle reduction and animal notes – tar, a whisper of fermented spice from cardamom, tea and tobacco, underpinned by dark berry fruit and a shimmer of Moroccan spices. Cool, refined, with a tension that piques curiosity.
- Palate
- On the palate, the Clos de la Faille already impresses with remarkable maturity and focus – quiet yet compelling. An elegant, noblesse-driven nonchalance defines its character: cool, refined, with a slightly tart freshness perfectly balanced by delicate extract sweetness. The tannins are silky and fine-grained, the oak influence barely perceptible yet structurally defining. The proportion of whole-bunch fermentation lends the wine its own vibrant dynamism.
- Finish
- Long, precise and marked by sustained freshness. The wine bids farewell with mineral spice and a fine tannin structure that signals depth and ageing potential.
- Terroir & Origin
- The vineyard is located in Wintzenheim and forms the natural continuation of the Grand Cru Hengst. The soil mosaic is remarkable: at the top pink Vosges sandstone and calcareous sandstone, in the middle shell limestone with fine grey grain, at the bottom a mixture of sandstone and white quartz. This diversity is directly reflected in the wine’s complexity and minerality.
- Grape Variety & Vinification
- Pinot Noir from vines approximately 25 years old. Vinified with around 20% whole bunches, which lends the wine its characteristic spice and vibrancy. Maturation takes place in roughly 20% new barriques – restrained and precisely deployed, without overwhelming the fruit.
- Food Pairing Suggestions
- Ideal with Alsatian Munster cheese, roasted duck with cherries, game birds or a classic Coq au Vin. Also a revelation alongside aged Comté or lamb loin with herbs.
- Special Characteristics
- A Pinot Noir that demonstrates what Alsace is capable of when terroir, craftsmanship and vintage align. The Clos de la Faille possesses the quiet authority of great Burgundies – without the price tag. Already accessible now, yet with clear potential for a further 5–8 years of cellar ageing.
