Domaine Albert Mann : Pinot Gris Grand cru "Furstentum" 2020

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Domaine Albert Mann 2020 Pinot Gris Grand Cru "Furstentum"

Tasting

Appearance

The appearance displays a light golden yellow hue, enhanced by bright golden highlights. Crystalline and clear, it showcases careful vinification.

Nose

Initially reserved, the nose gradually unveils a beautiful aromatic complexity. Ripe stone fruit, particularly peach, combines with notes of fresh almond. Touches of fresh quince, rooibos and toasted hazelnut enrich the bouquet, while subtle mineral nuances evoke the limestone terroir.

Palate

The attack is delicate and precise, revealing a medium to full-bodied texture. The palate expresses beautiful concentration while maintaining remarkable elegance and a freshness unusual for this grape variety. The mineral, saline and chalky structure brings tension, supported by fine tannins that add depth. The intense and persistent finish prolongs the saline and mineral impressions, accompanied by malty and roasted hazelnut notes.

Food and wine pairings

This Pinot Gris is the ideal accompaniment for delicate fish prepared with ginger and spring onion, as well as seafood. It also pairs very well with creamy poultry dishes, traditional Alsatian meat pies and fennel or artichoke-based dishes. Oysters and other raw shellfish are also excellent pairings.

Service and cellaring

This Pinot Gris Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2020 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve until approximately 2030.

An Alsace Pinot Gris combining richness and minerality on the limestone terroir of Furstentum

The estate

Domaine Albert Mann traces its origins to the union of two Alsatian winemaking families: the Manns, established since the early 17th century, and the Barthelmés, present since 1654. Today, the estate spans 25 hectares spread across a hundred plots in Wettolsheim and the surrounding communes. Jacky Barthelmé currently manages the estate, supported by the new generation represented by Antoine and Pauline Barthelmé. A pioneer of biodynamics in Alsace since 1997, the estate obtained Ecocert certification in 2000, followed by Biodyvin in 2010. This terroir-respecting philosophy and high standards have earned the estate numerous distinctions, including the title of Winemaker of the Year awarded by La Revue du Vin de France in 2012.

The vineyard

The Pinot Gris Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2020 comes from the prestigious Furstentum terroir, located on south and south-west facing slopes between Kientzheim and Sigolsheim, at an altitude of 300 to 400 meters. This historic site, mentioned as early as 1330, is characterized by marly-limestone-sandy soils derived from Lower Dogger geological formations, sometimes mixed with Tertiary conglomerates. This calcareous, skeletal and well-drained composition, combined with the favorable exposure, promotes early ripening of the grapes and gives the wines a distinctive mineral signature. The Pinot Gris vines, approximately 40 years old, are cultivated according to biodynamic principles, with mechanical plowing, partial grass cover and the application of biodynamic preparations throughout the vegetative cycle.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Alsace proved moderately demanding but ultimately yielded grapes of fine quality and great complexity. Weather conditions favored generous fruit ripening while preserving remarkable balance.

Vinification and aging

The Pinot Gris Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2020 grapes are hand-harvested at optimal maturity. Vinification is gentle, with no added oenological products other than a minimal amount of sulfur. Fermentation takes place exclusively with naturally occurring indigenous yeasts. The wine is neither fined nor filtered, thus preserving the full expression of the terroir and the purity of the fruit.

Grape

100% Pinot Gris