Domaine Albert Mann : Riesling Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Riesling Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2021 from Domaine Albert Mann

Tasting

Appearance

The appearance presents a bright golden yellow color with luminous highlights.

Nose

The nose unveils remarkable aromatic complexity with notes of white peach and Nashi pear. Grapefruit aromas bring a lemony freshness, while mineral nuances of wet chalk and cold smoke evoke the terroir's saline character. Herbaceous touches of lemon balm, coriander, mint, and thyme complete this bouquet, accompanied by subtle vegetal notes of peas and fennel.

Palate

On the palate, this Riesling stands out for its lively acidity and linear structure. A wave of ripe yellow fruit expresses itself on the attack, followed by a sharp acidity that defines the wine's architecture. The mid-palate reveals remarkable fruity precision, carried by a mineral framework rather than wood influence. The finish impresses with its length, with mineral and vegetal nuances persisting for several minutes on the palate.

Food and wine pairings

This Riesling is ideal with pan-fried zander with Riesling-braised cabbage. It also pairs perfectly with Arctic char tartare with radishes and herb emulsion, or with steamed salsify with passion fruit. More broadly, this wine pairs with creamy poultry, delicate fish, and seafood preparations.

Service and storage

The Riesling Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2021 is best served at a temperature between 10 and 12°C.

An Alsace Riesling combining minerality and aromatic complexity from the Grand Cru Furstentum

The estate

Domaine Albert Mann is the result of the union of two Alsatian winemaking families whose roots go back to the 17th century. The Barthelmé family has cultivated vines since 1654, while the Mann family has practiced this trade since the early 17th century. In 1984, Maurice Barthelmé took over the management of the estate after marrying Albert Mann's granddaughter. Today, Maurice and his brother Jacky manage the family estate, which covers approximately 25 hectares spread over a hundred plots in Wettolsheim, in the Haut-Rhin. A pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in Alsace since 1997, the estate obtained Ecocert certification in 2000 and Biodyvin in 2010. Internationally recognized, Domaine Albert Mann was named "Winemakers of the Year" by the Revue du Vin de France in 2012.

The vineyard

The Riesling Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2021 comes from the Grand Cru Furstentum, located in the Kaysersberg valley in Alsace. This vineyard, mentioned as early as 1330 in the archives of the Basel Convent, obtained its Grand Cru classification in 1992. Domaine Albert Mann owns 1.7 hectares of the 30 hectares in this appellation. The vines benefit from optimal south and south-east exposure. The brown calcareous soils composed of marl, limestone, and sandstone from the Lower Dogger, dating back about 180 million years, give the wines a characteristic chalky minerality. The high active limestone content, reaching about 45%, contributes to the acidity and mineral intensity typical of Rieslings from this terroir.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Alsace stands out as an exceptional year. The growing season took place under a generally dry climate, with crucial rainfall in June that helped avoid water stress while maintaining beautiful fruit concentration. This combination of dry conditions and strategic water supply favored sugar accumulation while preserving the lively acidity characteristic of great Alsatian Rieslings. Professionals compare this vintage to the legendary 1996 for its remarkable balance between ripeness and freshness.

Winemaking and aging

The Riesling Grand Cru "Furstentum" 2021 is produced using a plot-by-plot winemaking approach with indigenous yeasts. The estate practices minimal intervention in the cellar, limiting sulfite additions and refraining from aggressive fining or filtration. This philosophy allows the characteristics of the grape and terroir to fully express themselves. Harvesting is done manually with particular attention paid to the harvest date, specifically adapted to each plot to capture the optimal moment of physiological maturity.

Grape variety

100% Riesling