Domaine Albert Mann : Riesling Grand cru "Schlossberg" 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the Riesling Grand Cru "Schlossberg" 2023 by Domaine Albert Mann

Tasting notes

Appearance
The glass reveals a pale yellow hue enhanced by delicate golden reflections.

Nose
Beautifully complex, the nose opens on citrus notes (Amalfi lemon, candied lemon peel, grapefruit) intertwined with subtle floral hints of hawthorn and linden. With aeration, the bouquet unveils aromas of white flowers and herbs, underpinned by a saline minerality reminiscent of crushed stone.

Palate
The attack is lively and mineral, driven by a vibrant acidity. The palate offers a linear and precise structure, revealing at its core flavours of stone fruit and ripe citrus. The balance between freshness and a very light sweetness is remarkable, leading to a long, persistent and mouth-watering finish.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs wonderfully with seafood and delicate fish, such as turbot in a salt crust, scallop carpaccio or sole en papillote. It also accompanies white asparagus with truffle cream, Asian dishes (sushi, pad thai), light white meats, as well as regional specialities such as choucroute garnie or tarte flambée. As for cheeses, an aged Comté or Gruyère will enhance its minerality.

Serving and cellaring

For an optimal tasting experience, it is recommended to serve this wine at a temperature between 11 and 12°C, ideally in large universal glasses. Aeration of about thirty minutes before serving is recommended to release its full aromatic complexity. Ready to be enjoyed from 2026, this wine will reach its peak between 2029 and 2039, and can be drunk until around 2043, or even beyond under optimal cellaring conditions (darkness and stable temperature around 13°C).

The pure and mineral expression of a great white wine from Alsace

The estate

Located in Wettolsheim in Alsace, Domaine Albert Mann was officially born in the 1980s from the union of the Mann and Barthelmé families, winegrowers since the 17th century. Today, Antoine Barthelmé, gradually succeeding his father Jacky, runs this estate renowned for its excellence. A pioneer of biodynamics adopted as early as 1997, the estate cultivates around 25 hectares spread across some one hundred plots. Domaine Albert Mann stands out for its philosophy respectful of living things, producing wines that express with great purity the diversity of the terroirs.

The vineyard

This wine comes from the prestigious Grand Cru Schlossberg, the first terroir to be classified in Alsace in 1975. The estate cultivates 2.2 hectares of vines aged from 15 to more than 60 years there. Located on steep south-facing slopes, between 280 and 400 metres above sea level, these terraced plots rest on granitic soils and require manual harvesting. The soil, composed of sandy granite, gives the grapes a crystalline minerality and unique salinity. The entire vineyard is managed according to the rigorous principles of biodynamics.

The vintage

The year 2023 was marked by extreme heat. Faced with record temperatures, the vines nevertheless demonstrated their remarkable resilience, saved by long-awaited rains. The balance between freshness and precision, combined with the typicity and minerality of the terroirs, points to an exceptional vintage.

Winemaking and aging

The philosophy in the cellar focuses on minimal intervention. The grapes undergo a long and slow pressing to extract the finest juices. Fermentation begins spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks, evolving slowly to the rhythm of the seasons. After a controlled malolactic fermentation, the wine benefits from extended aging on fine lees for several months. A light filtration is carried out before bottling.

Grape variety

Riesling (100%)