Riesling Brand Grand Cru 2019 1500ml Magnum

Wine Description for Riesling Brand Grand Cru 2019 1500ml Magnum from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Colour & Appearance

Radiant, intense golden yellow – a visual promise of the power and concentration that this extraordinary Grand Cru unfolds in the glass.

Nose

Initially closed, the Brand opens up to an aromatic fireworks display after vigorous decanting. An opulent bouquet of flowers and apricots merges with candied lemon zest, ginger and lemon balm. The angular precision of the aromatics is underscored by the distinctive granite minerality – a wine that communicates its provenance unmistakably.

Palate

Explosive and demanding. The taut fruit attacks the palate with intense acidity and a remarkable salinity, attributable to the biotite granite. Despite 13.5% alcohol, the wine tastes bone-dry after twelve months of fermentation – a rarity for this vintage. The youthful intensity demands respect and patience. Here speaks a wine that has many years ahead of it.

Finish

Long, mineral and vibrant. The acidity structure carries the aromas well beyond the sip, whilst the saline minerality lingers and invites the next taste.

Terroir & Origin

The Grand Cru Brand sits majestically above Turckheim on biotite granite hillsides with south-south-east exposure. The early-ripening terroir benefits from the rapid warming of the granite, whilst cool winds from the Münster Valley provide balance. The deep-rooted vines draw nourishment from clay and minerals from weathered granite – ideal conditions for Riesling of extraordinary precision.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Old vines from Selektion Massale with naturally low yields, reinforced by millerandage in the 2019 vintage. The extraordinary grape ripeness led to a record-breaking twelve-month fermentation to complete dryness – a feat of strength that explains the concentration and longevity of this wine.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Grilled goat’s cheese with peach, potato and pumpkin rösti with anchovy sauce or sour-spicy prawns with papaya harmonise beautifully with the acidity structure and minerality.

Special Features

The magnum bottle promises optimal ageing conditions. Be sure to decant for several hours or enjoy it over several days once opened. A wine for the patient – its true potential will only unfold in the years to come.