The 2022 whites from Domaine Durrmann are finally here!
One of the hottest on record in Andlau, Yann has retained his signature freshness nonetheless. Long, slow fermentations due to dry conditions means Yann has bottled the wines later than he usually would, and is very happy with the results. "I think you can feel the terroir more actually, they have a lovely structure to them, they're very long."
We had a wonderful day with Yann at Ducksoup on Monday, tasting through all of the new 2022 releases and a sneak preview of the upcoming 2023 wines!
Yann has been heading up the family domaine since 2018, taking an already groundbreaking Alsatian family who were dedicated to organic farming, a long established no-till practice, agroforestry, and indigenous fermentations one step further into unfiltered, zero sulphur winemaking.
Yann's work is driven to expressing his varied terroir scattered over 30 small parcels around the village, where possible vinfying parcel by parcel, bottling varieties according to their soil type and location. To taste through the wines, particularly each of his Rieslings vinified by soil type, is to glean a true insight into the terroir of Andlau.
NEW RELEASES
SPARKLING
NEW 2022 - Grizzling - Riesling
Vines from a neighbour near the forest that gets eaten by the birds, so needs to be picked earlier which is good for Yann, he likes that freshness.
NEW 2022 - Pet Nat Toqué PG - Pinot Gris
One week's maceration. Classic Yann, naming a cuvee with an elaborate pun on the wine being a little bit crazy, and the historic - now outlawed name - for Pinot Gris (Tokay d'Alsace).
WHITE
NEW 2022 - Pinot Blanc - Pinot Blanc (MAGNUMS AVAILABLE)
One of Yann's favourite results from the slower fermentations, the Pinot Blanc in particular being more generous, with a nicely integrated reduction.
NEW 2022 - Riesling sur Grès - Riesling
Riesling grown over Gres for Yann is usually the easiest drinking, a little softer, but a less floral profile, more pithy citrus and precise acidity, nimble and easy, a nice little tannic structure in '22.
NEW 2022 - Riesling sur Granit - Riesling
Granite for Yann yields the most complexity for his Riesling, a more floral profile with a long, mineral structure. Really nicely integrated tannins in '22 lending a beautiful frame.
NEW 2022 - Riesling sur Schistes - Riesling
Riesling on Schist makes its terroir apparent with a livewire acidity and snap, rocky, chalky and mineral. Low yielding parcels. Long and driving, a little structure from 2022.
NEW 2022 - Grand Cru Kastelberg - Riesling
The 2022 Kastelberg shows great balance, a parcel that can risk over-ripeness, picked early to retain its freshness. Chiseled, mineral and persistently salty, great length and complexity.
2022 - Zegwur - Gewurztraminer
Really joyous 2022 - Crushing cans of Rubicon & Lilt together. Struck through with such pleasing acidity. A quarter de-stemmed and macerated for three weeks, the remainder press direct.
SKINS
NEW 2022 - Krax - Riesling
The Riesling for Krax - macerated through its fermentation - has a lovely softness thanks to the sandstone, which brings a lovely pithy bitterness to balance.
