Winemaker Notes
Like the rising sun's perfect disk which breaks the morning horizon, the Mambourg displays its magnificence, the depths of an accomplished and exquisite wine, its hand-crafted and polished finish the patina of thousands of years of erosion.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Grand Cru Mambourg displays an intense, dark yellow color and opens with a super intense and concentrated yet elegant and mineral bouquet of ripe yellow fruits and dark citrus fruits, crushed salts, limestone rocks and a hint of mocha beans and iodine notes. Full-bodied, round and very rich yet also very elegant and refined on the palate, this is a very generous, powerful and concentrated yet also stimulating saline and finely tannic Mambourg with a long, warm and super intense, saline and crunchy finish. In this warm vintage, the Mambourg comes across like a Hermitage and should be exciting to follow through the vintage river for several years. 14% stated alcohol. Natural cork.
-
James Suckling
Although this wine has Burgundian textural complexity, it is not the least Burgundian in aromas. Pronounced honeycomb and super-ripe yellow apple aromas, underlined by generous tannins and leesy complexity. Very long, dense and salty finish that is delicately creamy. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
-
Vinous
The 2022 Mambourg Grand Cru is a field blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Auxerrois planted on this warm site. A touch of smoked hay sets the tone on the nose. The palate is far more fluid and slender than the nose would suggest. It is smooth, with a waxy, smoky, pleasant bitterness, always wrapped in lovely smokiness but with so much cool direction. (Bone-dry)
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
Small but mighty, this picturesque region in northeastern France is renowned for its white wines produced by passionate families whose winemaking roots span generations and even centuries. Nestled between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River, Alsace benefits from a sunny, dry climate and a long growing season. It is one of the most geologically diverse regions in the world — one of the many reasons why Alsace rocks!
Alsace wines include dry, mineral-driven Riesling, earthy Pinot Gris, refreshing Pinot Blanc, exuberant Gewurztraminer, elegant Pinot Noir, and more. From traditional-method sparkling wines to easy-drinking AOC Alsace, to complex Grand Cru bottlings from 51 distinct sites, and rich, late harvest wines, Alsace produces a wine for every occasion. Most Alsace wines are single-varietal bottlings and are labeled with the grape name. The region is also one of the greenest wine-producing areas in France, with 36% of its vineyard area certified organic.
Riesling, the region’s calling card, is dry, fresh and floral in its youth, developing complex mineral and flint character with age. Gewurztraminer is known for its signature spice and lychee aromatics. Pinot Gris is prized for its combination of crisp acidity and savory spice as well as ripe stone fruit flavors. Pinot Blanc is an affable food partner or porch sipper. Pinot Noir, the only red grape in AOC Alsace, is now authorized in three Grand Cru areas and is also used for Crémant d’Alsace sparkling rosé. Any bottle you choose will offer deliciousness, pleasure and value that is unprecedented in other wine regions.