The 2021 cuvees from Yann Durrmann are here!
2021 was a tricky year in Alsace. In Andlau in particular the losses were felt heaviest in Pinot Noir, which suffered hugely with mildew. At Domaine Durrmann, Yann lost nearly 50% of his Pinot, in addition to other varieties. Ever the optimist, he still chalks 2021 up to a success:
“I can’t complain, sure we had a difficult year, but we had grapes, and we’ve been able to make lots of wines that I’m very pleased with. Some other winemakers in our region lost everything, this will be a missing vintage for them. To have made anything feels like a win!”
Quite the win too: the 2021 from Yann is a brilliant vintage. Leaner and brighter than recent warmer years, the acidity in these is alive, and they have a real sense of ease, despite the difficulties in the vineyard!
For the first time, Yann has also supplemented his own harvest with some negoce fruit from a neighbour with parcels on sandstone & granite, farmed organically. This has enabled him to make a few more cuvees that we wouldn’t usually see, so a few new ones this time round.
We have the following available for release now: if you haven’t registered your interest in the wines already, please let us know as soon as possible if you’d like to order, as quantities are very limited and we hope to be as fair as possible in distributing them!
SPARKLING
NEW - 2021 - Grizzling - Riesling, Pinot Blanc
A 75/25 blend of Riesling and Pinot Blanc from negoce fruit- Yann has wanted to make a pet nat of Riesling for a while, but never had enough fruit left after the terroir cuvees. He’s pleased to see this one to fruition, picked early for high acidity (and to save the Riesling from the birds that frequent the forest vineyard) pressed slowly and gently for six hours, fermented in stainless steel, bottled with 20g residual sugar remaining and fermentation continued in bottle. No disgorgement, no additions.
NEW - 2021 - Gaz De Schistes - Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling
A blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc grown over schist. Yann is of the opinion that Riesling on schist can become too tannic when macerated, and Pinot Gris too dark, so these were pressed directly, whilst the Pinot Blanc (50% of the blend) was macerated for two weeks.
WHITE
NEW - 2021 - Pinot Blanc Nature - Pinot Blanc
A 50/50 blend of Pinot Blanc on Schist for acidity and structure, and Auxerrois on Gres for aromatics and fruit, both pressed gently over 6 hours and fermented in tank. No additions.
NEW - 2021 - Riesling Gres Nature - Riesling
100% Riesling from all of Yann’s parcels on Gres - sandstone - made to the same method as all his whites, a delicate press over 6 hours and fermented in tank. No additions.
NEW - 2021 - Sylvaner Nature - Sylvaner
A first for us - Yann’s Sylvaner is usually saved for Edelzwicker and his beloved Vin Chaud made for Strasbourg Christmas Market - but with negoce fruit being used for those in 2021, Yann was able to make a terroir cuvee with his old-vine Sylvaner. A parcel on sandy clay, pressed gently and fermented in tank. No additions.
NEW - 2021 - Zegwur - Gewurztraminer
This year Yann’s Gewurz on granite suffered huge losses to mildew, so for the first time Zegwur is a blend of parcels on both granite and Grés. 25% of the Gewurz macerates de-stemmed until the end of fermentation, the rest pressed over 6 hours. The granite would usually amp up the floral aromatics, but with sandstone bringing 50% of the fruit this year, we have much more tropical fruit, and pithy citrus.
SKINS
NEW - 2021 - Krax - Riesling
Another change for 2021! In all prior years, Yann has picked Riesling for this cuvee from an area known as the Crax. With yields low this year, he added fruit from another vineyard planted over Gres, and ever-honest, decided to change the name (slightly.) Still 100% Riesling on gres macerated for 3 weeks destemmed.
ROSE
NEW - 2021 - Rose Nature - Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris
With yields so battered in the Pinot Noir parcels, and what remains not all suitable for a maceration, Yann’s rose is a twist on the familiar fave for 2021. A 50/50 blend of direct-pressed Pinot Noir (picking up a little colour in the six-hour press), and de-stemmed Pinot Gris macerated for 1 week, the result is a bright, fruity version of the Durrmann Rosé, aged in tank and bottled with no additions.
