At 22, Yannick didn’t care much for wine. Born into a winemaking family in a small village, it seemed like a mundane path to take. One evening, drinking in a bar, Yannick had his first sip of natural wine and didn’t know what to make of it. It was the people behind these wines that excited Yannick; people seeking an alternative, rebelling against convention and driven by passion. After a year of helping his parents with their vineyards, Yannick felt more at odds than ever with conventional winemaking and from one day to the next, he packed his bag and left. Drawn by a deep curiosity that came with that first taste of natural wine Yannick began travelling, discovering mentors such as Philippe Pacalet, Patrick Meyer, Claus Preisinger, Charles Dufour and Christian Binner. Inspired and impassioned, Yannick returned to Alsace to begin his own project, releasing his first vintage in 2020. 3.5 hectares of vines between Obernai and Heiligenstein make up Yannick’s domaine: older vines of around 50 years as well as some young Riesling, planted in heavy clay soils. He also purchases grapes which gives him access to more expressive terroir, located in vineyards he could not afford to buy himself. These négoce projects are highly personal and he spends a lot of time discussing methods, as well as pruning and visiting when possible.
Usually Yannick makes Pinot Noir that expresses individual terroir but this one mixes different plots, stacking schist with sandstone, clay and sedimentary. Mostly négoce grapes, with just a little of his own Pinot, it’s a sun-influenced wine that’s rich in tannins. All the wines were vinified separately, with one week of whole bunch maceration followed by daily punch downs for a further week, all in open vats before going into old Burgundy barrels. Deeper in colour and fruit than most Pinots, Pinot Noir Grrrr ’22 is full of character and well-balanced with a touch of volatility that’s a signature of Yannick’s wines. Decant to soften the tannins and enjoy at 14–16°.