Riesling Roche Granitique 2018

A dry Alsatian Riesling at 12.5% vol., open and intense, carried by exotic fruit, stony spice and a fine tannin that gives it structure at the table.

All the parcels lie on the granite soils of the Grand Cru Brand near Turckheim, which brings granitic minerality to the wines. In 2018, this was joined by the very small harvest from the young vines planted in 2013 in the Grand Cru Sommerberg, less than ten percent of the volume. Olivier Humbrecht, the first Frenchman to hold the title of Master of Wine, farms 42 hectares biodynamically, having converted the first five hectares back in 1996. Yields range from 30 to 40 hectolitres per hectare.

Riesling from vines averaging 36 years old: the younger vines of the Brand, whose wine is bottled as the site's second wine. In 2018 the grapes ripened quickly and in good balance, with the vines' stress kept under control. Fermentation proceeded slowly, at a steady pace, finishing dry. At least six months of lees contact give it texture, and no wine from the estate leaves the cellar before one to two years of ageing.

On the nose, orange, lime, fresh pineapple, mango and passion fruit, layered with fresh ginger, lemongrass and liquid honey over a stony minerality. Then density and fine fruit sweetness, the acidity precise and well integrated within the fullness, the tannin delicately bitter on the finish. Decant if possible and drink from large glasses.

Scallop salad with orange-wakame salad, unforced goose liver with physalis, ginger and brioche, or Jerusalem artichoke fries with preserved-lemon camelina-oil mayonnaise and sauerkraut with carrots.

The Humbrecht family has been growing wine since 1620; since 2019 Pierre Émile Humbrecht has been working alongside them as the eleventh generation. The wine has good potential for ageing and development over the coming years.