TN: Open doors at Domaine Albert Mann

OPEN DOOR AT DOMAINE ALBERT MANN - Domaine Albert Mann, Wettolsheim (5/5/2016)

Some tasting notes from Domaine Albert Mann in Alsace, mainly 2015 wines tasted at the estate’s wonderful annual open doors event. Many of these wines are not yet available in the US market, so here an early peek :wink:. It is important to stress that not all the grands crus from the 2015 vintage were available to taste. For example, the bone-dry style of the Schlossberg - my overall favorite at Albert Mann - was not yet available. For those concerned about sweetness levels, Albert Mann provides index levels, as you can read here: http://www.albertmann.com/site/Grands-Crus-261.html. You can read (and see videos and pics) more about their open doors event, which included guest Ramonet from Burgundy (with large format bottles, including Montrachet 2009 from Jeroboam!) here: http://www.wine-chronicles.com/blog/alsace-albert-mann-2015/ Also in that link a fun video with winemaker Jackie Barthelmé on the virtues of walking with Pinot Blanc!

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  • 2015 Albert Mann Pinot Blanc Élevé en Barrique - France, Alsace
    What can I say! This is gorgeous Pinot Blanc. The oak is not new, but somehow its use adds extra texture to this grape, which comes across perfectly dry, ripe and juicy flavorful in 2015. Jacky Barthelmé explains in the video (in my website review) how it is only made in certain years. So glad it was done in 2015. Not an expensive wine, so go buy it. I will. (91 pts.)
  • 2015 Albert Mann Muscat - France, Alsace
    As far as Muscat goes, this delivers the goods and more. Very grapey in flavor, with a brisk attack and vinous mid palate. A terrific aperitif wine to start off a summer party. (88 pts.)
  • 2015 Albert Mann Riesling Cuvée Albert - France, Alsace
    Clean, crisp if a bit round on the mid palate. Yes, 2015 was a more solar vintage, with lower acidity than, say, 2014 and 2013. Happily the richness does not come across as too much, and there is vivacity throughout. (90 pts.)
  • 2015 Albert Mann Pinot Gris Cuvée Albert - France, Alsace
    As with the Riesling, a selection of old vines from Wettolsheim and Kientzheim, of clay and limestone soilds. I often have difficulty with Pinot Gris as being too “sticky” for my dry white wine tastes, but here we have a pure expression rather dry and balanced of quince and orange rind, the residual sugar not too dominant. (90 pts.)
  • 2015 Albert Mann Riesling Rosenberg - France, Alsace
    The 20 grams of residual sugar are in evidence for me on this one… I prefer a more bone dry style of Riesling. There is no denying that this is very well made, and lovers of off dry will find much to love here because the wine has a very vinous nature, full bodied palate and a long finish.
  • 2015 Albert Mann Riesling Furstentum - France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
    An excellent Riesling in the context of the richer style 2015 vintage. Why? There is much balance here. The wine has opulence, yet the limestone like freshness of the terroir of Furstentum balanced the residual sugar nicely. Full body, long finish. I was thinking of pairing this with fettuccini alfredo with shrimp and mushrooms… (92 pts.)
  • 2015 Albert Mann Pinot Gris Furstentum - France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
    Here again a balanced expression of Pinot Gris from a grand cru vineyard dominated by limestone, lending needed freshness, especially in 2015. Full bodied, lip smacking, juicy white stone fruit flavors, some yellow melon aspects, a touch of sweetness but well balanced by acidity. Long finish. (92 pts.)
  • 2015 Albert Mann Pinot Gris Hengst - France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
    Here we have an example of a somewhat too “sticky” Pinot Gris for my tastes, but lovers of this style will enjoy this wine!
  • 2014 Albert Mann Riesling Schlossberg - France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
    Wow, what precision and brightness. It is rather too young to my mind, because the acidity is quite prominent at this stage, and the flavors dominated by citrus aspects. Don’t get me wrong, it has much body and vinosity on the mid palate, but great wines only achieve true aromatic complexity with age. Indeed, this needs a bit more time in bottle in order to get some tertiary aspects. Great potential for aging. (94 pts.)
  • 1994 Albert Mann Riesling Schlossberg - France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
    Dry, fresh lime and light notes of gunflint - really just suggesting tertiary notes at over 20 years of age - with high acidity but balanced by excellent dry extract and ripe fruit, long clean and pure. Lovely wine! (94 pts.)

Albert Mann remains one of my favorite producers in Alsace.

Thanks Panos. Nice notes.

No Gewurz available?

Yes there were some over lunch but I did not take any notes… they were delicious.

Gewurztraminer is always my favorite Chez Mann.

Thanks a lot for your notes, Panos; sounds like a great tasting.

When you also consider Weinbach and Paul Blanck, not much more evidence is needed to prove the greatness of Schlossberg for Riesling.

Had a great visit in `98 and saw the barriques. They made me feel very welcome [cheers.gif]