# Dandy (2024)

- **Producer:** Jean Hutterd
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Region:** Alsace, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €25
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apple, pear, lemon, herbaceous

## About this wine

Jean Hutterd's "Dandy" is a testament to the vibrant natural wine movement flourishing in Alsace. Crafted in 2024, this wine embodies a philosophy of minimal intervention, allowing the unique terroir of Alsace to shine through. While specific varietals are not disclosed, the focus is clearly on expressing purity and freshness. Jean Hutterd, as a producer, is committed to sustainable and organic practices, ensuring that each bottle of Dandy reflects a deep respect for the land and its natural rhythms. This wine is designed for those who appreciate authentic, unadulterated expressions of winemaking, offering a direct connection to the Alsatian landscape.

## Interesting facts

- Alsace is unique in France for labeling wines primarily by grape variety, though "Dandy" breaks this tradition.
- "Vinification Naturelle" means the wine is made with minimal human intervention, often using only grapes and time.
- The 2024 vintage is exceptionally young, offering a fresh glimpse into the producer's natural winemaking philosophy.
- Alsace is the only French region where white wines are typically bottled in tall, slender "flûte" bottles.

## Food pairing

This dry, natural white wine from Alsace, with its vibrant acidity and assumed medium body, pairs beautifully with dishes that are fresh, light, and subtly rich. The acidity acts as a palate cleanser, cutting through creamy textures and complementing delicate flavors. Its 'natural' character often harmonizes with rustic, simple, and high-quality ingredients, enhancing rather than dominating the food.

## Wine making process

"Dandy" by Jean Hutterd is produced using "Vinification Naturelle," a commitment to minimal intervention winemaking. This approach typically involves hand-harvested, organically grown grapes, fermented with indigenous yeasts found naturally in the vineyard and cellar. The fermentation process is allowed to proceed without the addition of commercial yeasts or enzymes. Following fermentation, the wine is likely aged in neutral vessels, such as old oak barrels or stainless steel, to preserve its primary fruit characteristics and natural acidity. Filtration and fining are often avoided or kept to a minimum, resulting in a wine that may appear slightly hazy but offers a true, unfiltered expression of its origin. The "Vin Sec" designation confirms a dry style, achieved by allowing fermentation to complete fully, converting all grape sugars into alcohol.