Albert Mann – A progressive domaine at the top
Date: 05-07-2017
Domaine Albert Mann is the joint effort of two winemaking families: Barthelmé and Mann. Though the Barthelmés and Manns both have a long history with growing vines (over three centuries!), the two families did not become intertwined until the marriage of Maurice Barthelmé and Marie-Claire Mann—the daughter of Albert—a few decades ago.
Today, Maurice and Marie-Claire run the estate in Wettolsheim with Maurice’s brother Jacky and his wife Marie-Thérèse. The wines produced by the family are precise and balanced, with pure expression of the terroir.
The winery was an early proponent of biodynamic viticulture, starting with three Grand Cru vineyards in 1997, being organically certified by Ecocert since 2000 and gradually converting the rest of the Domaine by 2010. Domaine Albert Mann now cultivates more than 100 plots. They produce wines from five Grands Crus, two lieux-dits and one clos (former cloister), in addition to their ‘traditional’ range of wines.
If the many years of experience and dedication to biodynamics aren’t convincing enough to give these wines a try, Domaine Albert Mann also received the 2012 Winemaker of the Year award from Revue du Vin de France, the leading French wine publication.
Reviews:
‘These wines are generally superb in quality, with dramatic personalities, plenty of concentration and impeccable balance.’ Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
‘Every time I visit this biodynamic domain, run by Maurice and Jacky Barthelmé, I’m more impressed than the last time. The brothers are very serious and very determined, and their wines (Jacky is in charge of the cellar and Maurice the vineyards) grow in precision and focus with each vintage which passes. The 21-hectare domain now includes six hectares of grands crus (including the superb Hengst, Schlossberg and Furstentum) and three hectares of lieux-dits (including Altenbourg).’ Andrew Jefford, Gourmet Traveller Wine
JC with Jackie and Marie