DOMAINE ALBERT MANN, GEWURZTRAMINER GRAND CRU "FURSTENTUM", 6 Bottle Case 75cl

Two brothers, Maurice and Jacky Barthelmé in the village of Wettolsheim, near Colmar, run this well regarded Alsace Domaine. Maurice, who took over here in 1984, is married to the granddaughter of the late Albert Mann who gave his name to the Domaine. It’s not a huge operation: they have 19 hectares in all, but five of these are in five different Grand Cru vineyards and a further two are in lieux-dits.

The Furstentum Organic Gewurztraminer Grand Cru from the Albert Mann estate in Alsace weighs in at 13.5% - 14% depending on vintage and around 30 grams residual sugar. It is made from from vines more than 50 years old. Straw yellow in colour with a tightly bound bouquet of floral and mineral nuance, a characteristic of these lighter grand cru soils. Off dry on the palate, this is a taut wine; stylish and elegant, yet with intensity and richness. Very fine texture for Gewurztraminer, with no coarse cloyingness at all, excellent stuff.

Organic, natural