Domaine Albert Mann : Riesling Grand cru "Schlossberg" 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Riesling Grand cru "Schlossberg" 2021 from Domaine Albert Mann

Tasting

Appearance

The appearance reveals a brilliant straw yellow hue, enhanced by pale golden highlights and green nuances characteristic of the wine's youth.

Nose

The nose reveals beautiful aromatic complexity where notes of white fruit (yellow apple, Conference pear, white peach) mingle with fresh citrus (lemon, grapefruit). Herbaceous touches of mint, fresh nettle, and parsley add a refined botanical dimension, while spicy nuances of roasted fennel, coriander, and anise complete this sophisticated bouquet.

Palate

The attack on the palate is direct and mineral, driven by lively and precise acidity. The elegant texture favors finesse over power, with a herbaceous and mentholated freshness that traverses the palate. The mid-palate fully expresses the granitic character of the terroir through a crystalline minerality. The finish, remarkably long, evolves towards notes of citrus zest accompanied by a saline touch, the signature of the Schlossberg granitic soil.

Food and wine pairings

This Riesling Grand cru "Schlossberg" 2021 is the ideal accompaniment for a seafood platter, oysters, scallop carpaccio with citrus, or fish grilled with Mediterranean herbs. It also pairs very well with light Asian dishes based on lemongrass and fresh mint, as well as matured goat cheeses.

Service and cellaring

The Riesling Grand cru "Schlossberg" 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. Accessible now, this wine has a cellaring potential of approximately ten to twenty years, during which it will develop more complex tertiary aromas while retaining its characteristic freshness.

A mineral and precise Alsace Riesling, an authentic expression of the Schlossberg granitic terroir

The estate

Domaine Albert Mann, established in Wettolsheim near Colmar in Alsace, was born from the union of two winemaking families whose roots date back to the 17th century. Since Maurice and Jacky Barthelmé took over management in 1984, the estate has established itself as a reference in Alsatian biodynamic viticulture. Today, the new generation represented by Pauline and Antoine Barthelmé perpetuates this legacy on a vineyard of approximately twenty-five hectares spread over a hundred plots, one-third of which is classified as Grand Cru. Certified biodynamic since 2010, the estate cultivates its vines according to Biodyvin principles, favoring an approach respectful of living things and an authentic expression of the terroirs. The wines of Domaine Albert Mann are regularly acclaimed by international critics, with scores exceeding 95 points.

The vineyard

The Riesling Grand cru "Schlossberg" 2021 comes from the prestigious Grand Cru Schlossberg, the first vineyard in Alsace to have obtained this classification in 1975. Located in Kientzheim, this exceptional terroir extends over steep south-facing slopes, between two hundred and thirty and four hundred meters in altitude. The granitic soil, composed of migmatite and biotite granite, gives the wine its characteristic minerality and aromatic precision. The sandy and gravelly texture of the soil, poor in fine elements, promotes excellent drainage and encourages deep rooting of the vines. The particularly dry climate of this sector, with only five hundred to six hundred millimeters of annual rainfall, combined with the protective effect of the Vosges and the fresh breezes of the Weiss Valley, creates ideal conditions for a slow and progressive ripening of the Riesling, thus preserving acidity and aromatic complexity.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Alsace proved particularly demanding for winemakers. After a harsh winter marked by low temperatures and abundant rainfall, spring started with temperatures above seasonal averages, promoting early budburst. Summer brought its share of challenges with humid and rainy conditions persisting until August, creating significant pressure from fungal diseases. Fortunately, September offered a saving Indian summer, with sunny and stable weather allowing the grapes to reach optimal maturity. This favorable period allowed rigorous producers to harvest healthy grapes, endowed with beautiful aromatic freshness and preserved acidity, essential characteristics of great Rieslings.

Winemaking and aging

The Riesling Grand cru "Schlossberg" 2021 is vinified according to a minimalist approach respecting the estate's biodynamic philosophy. After a meticulous manual harvest, the grapes are gently pressed and the must undergoes a natural static settling of approximately twenty-four hours. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, exclusively with indigenous yeasts naturally present on the grapes and in the cellar. This spontaneous fermentation, although slower and less predictable, allows for an authentic expression of the terroir. The wine then rests on fine lees for about ten months, thus developing complexity and texture. Sulfur additions are kept to the strict minimum necessary for the preservation of the wine. No aggressive filtration is practiced before bottling, thus preserving the entirety of the aromatic and mineral compounds.

Grape variety

100% Riesling