Domaine Zind-Humbrecht : Riesling Grand cru "Brand" 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Riesling Grand Cru "Brand" 2023 from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Tasting

Colour
Revealing a delicate pale golden-yellow hue, this white wine displays remarkable visual purity.

Nose
Highly expressive, the nose reveals a lovely complexity blending fresh fruit aromas such as pineapple, passion fruit, peach and ripe citrus. It is enriched with notes of medicinal herbs, mint and basil, all underpinned by a deep minerality reminiscent of wet stone and a subtle smoky touch.

Palate
The attack is lively and dynamic, offering a precise balance between a delicately creamy texture and a razor-sharp acidity. The palate, saline and energetic, stretches into an extremely dry finish, long and marked by noble bitterness typical of its granite terroir.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs beautifully with fresh seafood such as oysters or crab, as well as delicate white fish or sushi. It also perfectly complements white meats in cream sauce, asparagus or artichoke dishes, and pork with mild spices.

Service and storage

Endowed with remarkable ageing potential, this 2023 vintage can be enjoyed at its best between approximately 2028 and 2060.

The excellence of Alsatian terroir by Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

The estate

Officially founded in 1959 with the union of Léonard Humbrecht and Geneviève Zind, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht now spans 40 hectares across six villages in Alsace. Heir to a winegrowing tradition dating back to 1620, the estate is currently led by Olivier Humbrecht, joined by his son Pierre-Émile. A true pioneer, the estate stands out for its rigorous commitment to biodynamic viticulture, seeking to express the purest identity of its terroirs through controlled yields and natural winemaking.

The vineyard

The Brand terroir spans 2.4 hectares facing south and south-east. This particularly warm and early-ripening vineyard rests on heavily eroded pink two-mica granite soil. The vines, averaging 73 years old, sink their roots deep into the cracks of the bedrock, drawing on a unique minerality and benefiting from excellent water regulation.

The vintage

The year 2023 was marked by particularly hot and dry weather conditions. Early summer saw scorching temperatures, causing poor flower fertilisation and thereby reducing yields. Fortunately, welcome rainfall arrived in August, allowing the vines to continue their growth cycle without water stress and reach optimal ripeness.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes are harvested by hand to preserve the berries. In the winery, handling is carried out by gravity to avoid any stress to the grapes. Fermentation takes place using indigenous yeasts. This wine then undergoes extended ageing on the lees, ranging from sixteen to eighteen months, in wooden barrels within a naturally cool and humid underground cellar.

Grape variety

Riesling (100%).