The Grand Cru classified vineyard of Brand overlooks the town of Turckheim and reaches an altitude of 343 metres above sea level. The wines of the Brand vineyard have been highly reputed since the 14th century, covering 58 hectares, of which Dopff au Moulin owns 3.2 hectares. The vineyard faces south and south-east and features very steep slopes. The soil consists of "Turckheim granite" with black and white micas, which is characterised by a low water retention capacity. The steep slopes combined with the granite soils, contribute to the rapid warming of the soil, which helps to encourage the vine to mature. The Guyot pruned vines are green harvested and meticulous canopy management take place. Yields are extremely low at 26 hectolitres per hectare.
The grapes were manually harvested at 107° Oechsle. Gentle pneumatic pressing took place in whole bunches without crushing the grapes. A static racking of the must was followed by a slow temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel. The wine was stored in old oak casks on the fine lees for several months.
Expressive notes of honey, spice and candied fruits lead to a refreshing and beautifully balanced palate. This full bodied and rich wine has great finesse.
