Bottler: Domaine Zind Humbrecht, 4 Route de Colmar, 68230 Turckheim / France
In the glass
Colour
Bright, intense golden yellow.
Nose
Mineral clarity meets orange flesh, white peach and peach skin, accompanied by cool stony notes, oyster shell, soy sauce and a fine sea breeze.
Palate
Citrus fruits along with yellow and exotic fruits combine with vibrant acidity and pronounced salty minerality; the finish is finely bitter-sweet and moreish.
Character
A cool, focused Riesling of great structure and elegance – a wine that complements food beautifully and reveals its full potential when served in large glasses or after decanting.
Pairing
Prawns and peach on a rocket salad, pulled pork with oranges and crispy baguette, or potato and pumpkin wedges with apple-ginger chutney.
Notes
The vines are rooted in the steep granite soils of the Grand Cru Brand in Turckheim – a terroir that yields ripe, intense Rieslings without any vegetal notes. Olivier Humbrecht, the first French Master of Wine, farms the estate biodynamically and it is Demeter-certified.
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Bright, intense golden yellow, already heralding the ripeness of the 2020 vintage in the glass.
Nose
Mineral clarity meets orange flesh and white peach, accompanied by peach skin, cool stony notes and a hint of oyster shell and sea breeze. An aromatic profile reminiscent of sculpture – as if a stonemason had been at work here. Decanting is well worth it.
Palate
Precise citrus fruits intertwine with yellow and exotic fruits. The acidity is pronounced, lively, almost electric. Amidst this pulses a salty minerality that makes the wine flow stimulatingly across the tongue. Dry, taut, uncompromising.
Finish
A fine bitterness on the finish that encourages further sipping. The harmonious balance of fruit and acidity lingers long – a finale that calls for food.
Terroir & origin
The vines are rooted in the steep granite slopes of the Grand Cru Brand near Turckheim, complemented by a parcel situated directly below. Granite warms up quickly, drains well and yields Rieslings that are ripe and intense – without any vegetal note. The continental climate of Alsace, with its hot-and-cold extremes, adds to the effect.
Grape variety & vinification
Riesling from vines planted between 1978 and 2001. The 2020 vintage produced very ripe grapes; a vigorous fermentation consumed the sugar and shaped a thoroughly dry wine.
Food recommendations
Prawns and peach on rocket – the salty minerality meets seafood. Potato and pumpkin wedges with apple-ginger chutney – the fruit of the wine is mirrored in the chutney. Pulled pork with orange – the acidity cuts through the richness.
Special features
A Riesling that displays the granitic signature of Brand without demanding a Grand Cru price tag. Olivier Humbrecht, the first French Master of Wine, farms his 42 hectares biodynamically – Demeter-certified since 2002. You can taste it: nothing here is left to chance; everything is concentrated.
