Pinot Gris Grand Cru Brand, Albert Boxler - 2018

Viticulture

If Riesling dominates the vineyard of the Grand Cru Brand, Pinot Gris has its place on this terroir which combines a rather high altitude position, between 240 and nearly 400 metres, between Turckheim and Niedermorschwihr, at the exit of the rather cool Munster valley, and a mostly southern exposure allowing the vine to "warm up" and the Pinot Gris to reach good levels of maturity. In addition, the very thin, rather sandy, deteriorated granite soils (black micas) allow the vine to really fix the mineral elements and restore them in the wine with great intensity.

Oenology

Alcoholic fermentation is generally carried out with indigenous yeasts and malolactic fermentation is not sought. The pressings on whole grapes are slow and the settling that follows is not very thorough. The wine is fermented in large tuns. Total sulphur levels are low for the region (80 mg/l) and only 20 mg of free sulphur at bottling.

Suggestions for accompaniment

Pan-fried or terrine foie gras, scampi or lobster salad with citrus vinaigrette, Asian cuisine with ginger, duck with orange.