COLOUR
White
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
NV
GRAPE
Riesling
PRODUCER
Domaine Brand & Fils
REGION
Alsace
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
Low
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Domaine Brand & Fils, located in Ergersheim within the La Couronne d'Or area of Alsace, has been a family-run estate since 1956. Under the visionary leadership of Philippe Brand, who joined in 2006, the estate transitioned fully to organic and biodynamic viticulture, becoming a benchmark for the Alsatian natural wine movement. La Chimère is named after the mythological Greek beast composed of different animals—a poetic metaphor for this unique cuvée, which is crafted using a fractional blending (solera) system. This approach is exceptionally rare for Riesling, a grape traditionally celebrated for single-vintage expressions. By blending multiple consecutive vintages, Brand challenges regional conventions to create a singular, living expression of their 70-year-old estate vines.
ALCOHOL
13.5%
AVG. PRICE
€21
STYLE
Natural
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
10-12°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Named after the mythological Chimera, symbolizing a single majestic beast formed from the composite parts of multiple distinct vintages.
Fact 02
Solera-style aging is exceptionally rare for Riesling, which is traditionally celebrated only as a single-vintage snapshot.
Fact 03
The grapes are sourced from exceptionally old Riesling vines, averaging 70 years of age, planted on clay-limestone soils.
Fact 04
The estate uses horse-drawn ploughing and biodynamic herbal preparations like nettle tea to maintain soil health.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The grapes are hand-harvested from old vines grown on clay-limestone soils in Ergersheim. Winemaking is strictly non-interventionist, certified under SAINS and AVN standards. Whole grape clusters undergo a very gentle, slow pressing, followed by spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in large, neutral oak casks (foudres) without temperature control. The wine is aged using a perpetual solera system started with the 2017 and 2018 vintages. Each year, about 75% of the foudre is bottled, and the remaining 25% mother liquid is topped up with the new vintage's juice. The wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with zero added sulfites.
