Riesling Grand Cru "Brand" 2020 Zind Humbrecht | Alsace

In the mosaic of terroirs in southernAlsace, Domaine Zind Humbrecht 's Riesling Grand Cru Brand occupies a pivotal position. This Turckheim Grand Cru, one of the first officially classified in 1983, has been recognized for centuries for its ability to produce deep, dry, luminous wines. Situated on the heights of the village, between 240 and 380 meters above sea level, the Brand is a steep hillside facing south and southeast, established on a base of poor granitic arena, also known as biotite, which imposes deep roots and favors expressions of great mineral purity. Domaine Zind Humbrecht has cultivated several parcels here for many years, including some from the "Steinglitz" climate, which produces particularly upright wines. The viticulture is entirely biodynamic, with manual work adapted to the slope and moderate yields. In 2020, climatic conditions enabled the grapes to reach perfect ripeness while retaining a structuring freshness. The grapes were vinified without the addition of yeast, then aged for a long time on lees in old tuns, without any technical intervention, to preserve the frankness of the terroir. The result is a dry, vibrant, taut wine in the tradition of the great Brand Rieslings.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: Domaine Zind Humbrecht 's Riesling Grand Cru Brand embodies the granitic tension typical of Turckheim's Grands Crus, but with a fullness that is rare for a dry wine. It combines restrained power with a precise, almost architectural expression of terroir. This is a pivotal wine in the wine estate's range: less austere in youth than the Rangen, more direct than the Windsbuhl, it finds a vertical, luminous balance that makes it accessible young, without losing any of its ageing potential. This vintage stands out as a great granite wine, to be followed for at least fifteen years.

On the nose, this Alsace Grand Cru opens discreetly with delicate aromas of ripe pear and white peach, fine touches of verbena and thyme, and a striking mineral framework, with notes of wet stone and smoky overtones. The whole reveals a restrained aromatic depth, full of promise.

On the palate, the attack is intense, animated by a previously unsuspected body. Density and verticality imbue the palate with mineral energy, where the granite terroir expresses itself in a smoky, persistent salinity. On the midpalate, the material calms down, with aromas of ripe citrus fruit and aromatic herbs. The finish prolongs the wine's granite energy into a long salivation, typical of the assertive personality of this Riesling Grand Cru Brand, and where one guesses the generous ageing potential of this Alsace Grand Cru.