2021 Trimbach Brand Riesling Grand Cru, Alsace

The lime-zest and Kafir-lime aromas burst from the glass of this simultaneously very sleek and very concentrated Grand Cru Brand. You need to like acidity to fully appreciate this highly-structured, medium- to full-bodied dry riesling, but the crystalline purity at the super-long finish is a wonder to behold! From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

97 points jamessuckling.com

Trimbach Brand Riesling Grand Cru from Alsace is a masterpiece of precision, minerality, and longevity — one of the jewels in the Trimbach family’s remarkable portfolio. The Brand vineyard, known since the Middle Ages as “La Montagne du Soleil,” sits high above the village of Turckheim and is one of Alsace’s most prized Grand Cru sites. With its steep, south-facing slopes and granite-rich soils, Brand produces Riesling of breathtaking purity and tension, and in the hands of the Trimbach family, this site’s power and energy are expressed with stunning clarity.

The grapes are hand harvested from old vines that thrive in the granitic soils, which provide both structure and a distinctive saline minerality. The 100 percent Riesling fruit is gently pressed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel, with no malolactic fermentation to preserve the wine’s laser-sharp acidity and longevity. The wine is aged for several years before release, a hallmark of the Trimbach style, allowing it to harmonise richness and precision.

In the glass it gleams pale gold with green highlights. The aroma is beautifully complex, showing lime zest, white peach, quince, and citrus blossom layered with flint, smoke, and crushed granite. The palate is dry, vibrant, and tightly coiled, displaying crystalline fruit purity balanced by an electric mineral core. As it opens, it reveals texture and depth, leading to an exceptionally long, precise finish that lingers with citrus and saline notes.

It pairs brilliantly with shellfish, scallops, white fish, sushi, or dishes featuring citrus, ginger, or mild spice. It also complements Alsatian classics like choucroute or goat cheese. While already captivating, this Grand Cru Riesling will evolve gracefully for decades, gaining layers of honey, toast, and truffle with time.