Josmeyer Riesling Grand cru Brand

The name of BRAND means fire.

In opposition with the two previous years, the winter 2001/2002 has been relatively rigorous with, end of december, a long period of frost. The spring was mild and humid, The bursting of the vines started mid – April. The vines were growing up nicely and the flowering, around June 15th. The summer is rainy. The harvest started on Wednesday 18th September with the Muscat. We made many special tries and we obtain some wonderful and rare products like the Riesling Grand Cru Hengst Sélection de Grains Nobles. 2002 wines will be well – balanced and elegant. Their richness will be counterbalanced by a good acidity.

The grapes were hand picked and whole-bunch pressed very slowly and gently in pneumatic presses over 5-8 hours to give a clean must and a beneficial amount of skin contact. Transferred to thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks the juice then began a natural fermentation using only its own natural yeast which lasted for one month. The fermentation was initially temperature controlled but was eventually allowed to proceed at its own pace to allow the wine to develop its own character and complexity. The wine stabilized in stainless steel tanks naturally during the winter season and, following a very gentle filtering, was bottled in March 2007 before the heat of summer to preserve the natural carbonic gas (a natural anti-oxidant). Malolactic fermentation is always avoided at Josmeyer and no chaptalization takes place.

Tasting Note: Lean and dry, this is austere in flavour hinting at petrol, apple, lemon and mineral. The acidity is sharp at this stage, while flavors persist through the long finish. It needs time to settle down, but the intensity is there.

Food Pairing: Seafoods, fish, sushis, sashimis, carpaccio or tartar of fish, goat cheese …