Riesling Grand Cru Brand 2018, Trimbach

Legend has it that this extraordinarily sheltered, south-southeast facing site at the village of Turckheim acquired magical properties from the blood of a dragon that did battle with the sun here. The name ‘Brand’ means ‘fire,’ because of its remarkably sunny local climate and the fine-grained granite soil that warms up so readily in the sun. All this leads to Grand Cru wines with a generosity and approachability that is rare among other Alsace wines of this calibre – especially if they are made from Riesling. Trimbach’s has pretty blossom and freshly-sliced cooking apple aromas and offers beautiful immediate drinking. This does not mean it will be a short-lived wine, however – enjoy its evolution over a decade or longer.