Growing Conditions
The family’s holdings are centered around the ancient village of Niedermorschwihr in the Haut-Rhin, dominated by the imposing granite hillside grand cru, Sommerberg. The Sommerberg hillside terminates in Jean’s driveway, making it easy to basically live in the vineyards, ensuring exceptionally healthy fruit year after year. The small family domaine in France that works traditionally using techniques and savoir faire passed down across multiple generations.
Brand is an imposing grand cru, standing steep and proud above the town of Turckheim, exposed due south and planted in pure granite. Hot stone is a theme in this wine grown on 13.8 hectares of 40 year old vines.
The affinity between the granite-soiled Brand vineyard and the Gewurztraminer variety is obvious, and it’s no surprise that a third of the grand cru is planted with this variety - a far higher proportion than it holds in the wider appellation.
Harvest
All grapes are harvested by hand
Winemaking
• No fining
• After pressing, cold settling before fermentation begins
• All fermentation is natural
• All Gewurztraminers are vinified in stainless steel
Nose
Precise, aromatically sophisticated, spiced and enticing, it is not overblown or cloying.
Palate
The palate is silky, supple persistence. It is delicious already but will surely transcend to the realms of the exquisite with some age.