Technical presentation
| Bottling : | July 2007 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 12.0° |
| Residual sugar : | 69.5 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 4.6 g/l H2SO4 / (7.0 g/l Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.4 |
| Yield : | 24 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2015-2030 |
| Average age of vines : | 56 years |
| Terroir : | Grand Cru Brand |
| Sweetness index : | VT |
| Soil : | Biotite Granit, South facing, Steep slope |
Description of the wine Riesling Grand Cru Brand 2006 - Vendange Tardive
This is the third SGN Riesling produced at Domaine Zind Humbrecht, ever. The first one was the Riesling Clos Windsbuhl 1989, the second one the Riesling Rangen 1998, and the Brand 2006 complete the series. The botrytis development on the old vines was spectacular, and we only needed to do a small rough cluster selection to obtain enough richness to produce this wine. It is the richest of the three at 165° Oechslés (23° potential) and also the one with the highest acidity. The selection process was quick, but the yields were extremely low. Before catching botrytis, the grapes were dark yellow in colour and fully ripe. SGN in Riesling isn’t a priority on the estate, as we always want to favour the full ripeness of the dry wines. We feel that taking the best botrytised berries for the Riesling grape variety can impoverish the classic dry wine. In 2006, there was no such dilemma, as everything was affected by noble rot. My only hope is that I will not have to wait another 8-10 years to produce the next Riesling SGN…
Tasting notes
01/2008 : What a nose! It is already showing a vast range of complex fruity flavours mixed up with delicate honeyed waxy aromas. Delicacy is the supreme word when describing the nose. Leaving the bottle open a few days reveal even more complexity. The palate is technically extremely sweet, but it doesn’t show at all. Again, the mouth feel is harmonious and delicate, the acidity underline every aspect of the wine. It really is delicious to drink now; to the point I had to hide the wine in the most unreachable place in the cellar.
The Brand Grand Cru of Turckheim
In the Brand, this variety acquires finesse and elegance (floral and fruit aromas) without ever becoming coarse or too heavy. The Brand always surprises by the precocity of its wines, but whilst expressive young they also have a great ability to age. The nature of this terroir makes it easy to obtain an optimal ripeness whilst retaining a fine acidity