Turckheim Brand Grand Cru Riesling 2022

If you fancy the luxury of Grand Cru wine without the Grand price tag, Alsace is one of the places to look. Unlike Burgundy or Bordeaux, there's less hype but no shortage of top-tier terroir, as this fine example shows. The 'Brand' vineyard is one of Alsace's sunniest Grand Crus, where warm, dry summers produce beautifully ripe grapes packed with flavour, finesse, and balance. Intense aromas of ripe citrus and pear mingle with petrol, white pepper, and a hint of exotic spice. The palate is dry, broad, and rich, with grapefruit, pineapple, and a smoky, saline edge leading into a long, steely, mineral finish. Elegant, complex, and seriously satisfying, it's a cut above the norm but refreshingly easy on the wallet.

This'll mature well for four or five years yet, but it's already drinking well and is a brilliant match for rich pork dishes like slow-roast belly or cheeses like aged Comté - its bright acidity and mineral edge cutting through like a well-aimed chef's knife.

Regarded as one of the best co-operatives in the Alsace, Cave de Turckheim is situated to the northwest of Colmar. Michel Lihrmann has been the senior winemaker here for many years and his style of dryer wines has been a huge hit, expressing the wonderful breadth of the Alsatian terroir and grape varieties while pushing pure fruit flavours to the fore. From their excellent value Cave Tradition range up to individual Grand Cru varietals as well as Crémants d'Alsace and Vendange Tardive dessert and organic wines, theres something here most palates.