Riesling Brand Grand Cru 2023

A dry Riesling that speaks of its origin through structure rather than fruit. The nose remains restrained and clear: pale mirabelle plum, white peach, candied quince and freshly cut stone fruit, joined by generous kaffir lime zest. The spice notes lean towards fennel seed, coriander seed and caraway, topped with delicate fennel flower and chicory. A subtle yeasty note points to the slow ageing.

The Grand Cru Brand lies to the south, facing Colmar, around Turckheim, at the mouth of the valley on steep, south-southeast-facing slopes with optimal foehn ventilation and long hours of sunshine. The two-mica granite absorbs the day's solar energy; as it weathers, it forms fine clays that reach deep into the fissured rock and, once colonised by the roots, provide minerality and a steady water supply. This is especially evident in the old vines, averaging 73 years of age. In the region's historical literature, this site was often singled out as one of Alsace's finest terroirs.

Pure Riesling, vinified dry, 13.0% ABV. Olivier Humbrecht, the first Frenchman to hold the title of Master of Wine, farms 42 hectares biodynamically, keeping yields at 30 to 40 hectolitres per hectare. No wine leaves the cellar before one to two years of ageing, at least six months of which on the lees.

Rich and structure-driven, with piquant, taut acidity and clearly noticeable phenolic spice. The fruit recedes, giving way to a stony core and a saline, slightly bitter edge. Spice and vegetal notes add fine nuance, and the finish carries on at length.

The Humbrecht family has been making wine since 1620; since 2019, Pierre Émile Humbrecht has joined as the eleventh generation. Horses are once again at work in the steepest parcels.