Albert Mann Gewurztraminer Furstentum Vieilles Vignes: 1993 – 2015
BY IAN D'AGATA |
I love the wines of Domaine Albert Mann for their varietal accuracy, purity and transparency to site. Albert Mann passed away in 1994. Today this iconic Alsace estate is run by Mann’s daughter, Marie-Claire, and her husband, Maurice Barthelmé. She oversees the winery’s financial operations, while he manages the vineyards. They are joined by Maurice’s brother, Jacky, who makes the wines, while Jacky’s ex-wife directs the estate's communication and marketing. Most importantly, when the Barthelmé brothers joined forces in 1989, Jacky Barthelmé's own vineyards were added to the Albert Mann holdings, thereby doubling the size of the estate overnight.
In fact, both the Mann and Barthelmé families have wine histories that date back to the 17th century: the Manns were based in Wettolsheim and the Barthelmés were from Kientzheim. Jacques Barthelmé, the father of Maurice and Jacky, was actually a partner in the latter town’s well-respected Domaine Blanck in the 1970s and 1980s.
Gewurtztraminer vines on the Furstentum
The Albert Mann Estate
Albert Mann is admired for wines of remarkable purity and precision. Arguably most famous for their Riesling Schlossberg and Pinot Noir bottlings, the estate’s Gewurztraminer Furstentum is just as outstanding, showcasing how well this variety can age in Alsace.
