2019 Mann Sylvaner Vignoble des 3 Terres Mouton Bleu

Sylvaner was once the most planted grape in Alsace before growers systematically ripped it out to make room for Riesling and Pinot Gris. Because cheap, industrial versions flooded the market, almost nobody was willing to defend it. Jean-Louis and Fabienne Mann are among a tiny handful of producers making a serious, age-worthy version.

Farming in Wettolsheim, the Mann family works their vineyards organically and biodynamically, certified by Biodyvin, the same body that certifies Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy. "Mouton Bleu" blends several plots with an average vine age of 54 years across granite, sandstone, and limestone (the three soils that lend their name to Vignoble des 3 Terres). Everything is hand-picked, pressed slowly and gently, and fermented on native yeasts.

What sets this wine apart is a full year of aging on its lees before bottling. That extra year in the cellar gives the wine a silky texture, weight, and structural presence that Sylvaner almost never shows.

In the glass, it lifts with aromas of ripe pear, green apple, quince, and orange blossom. The palate is smooth and medium-bodied, balancing pure stone fruit with vibrant acidity and a long, salty mineral finish.