Inimitable Alsatian Classics
by Allyson Noman
Inimitable Alsatian Classics
by Allyson Noman
Félix Meyer is full of surprises. A third-generation winemaker with deep expertise at his family’s domaine, he continues to make changes and improvements while remaining true to his roots. In addition to expanding his grand cru holdings, he’s also implemented organic farming practices and has been thoughtfully cultivating new and unexpected varieties with exciting results.
The Meyer-Fonné wines hold a notable place in our Alsatian portfolio, offering some of the most exceptional expressions of the region’s unique terroirs at great value. Take Félix’s old-vine Pinot Blanc. Rife with peach and citrus blossom, but delightfully dry and cleansing on the finish, it’s the perfect introduction to Alsatian whites for unfamiliar palates. Among his single-vineyard bottlings, the Riesling “Pfoeller” grows between two grand cru vineyards on muschelkalk, a densley layered limestone. The result is dramatic: green apple and petrol, finishing with rippling acidity. Another stunner, the Sylvaner “Oolithe,” comes from oolitic limestone, whose name refers to the soil’s fossilized, egg-shaped sediments. The oceanic raciness is unmistakable, balancing showy aromas of stone fruit.
Keenly aware of Alsace’s ability to produce soulful, world-class rouges, Félix also bottles multiple Pinot Noirs and even a Syrah. From mountainous marl, the single-vineyard Pinot “Altenbourg” is Burgundian in style, delivering silkiness and pure red fruit. The Réserve Pinot, sourced from multiple lieux-dits, maintains a youthful, vibrant profile, while edging into musky bramble. But perhaps most impressive is “Le Samson,” made from a fraction of a hectare of Syrah planted in the Wineck-Schlossberg grand cru; an undertaking to capture the variety’s potential in new terrain. Echoing great Syrahs from the northern Rhône, sunny granite soils impart inky black fruit but with an Alsatian snappiness. It’s a bottle loaded with aging potential.
Wines In The Collection
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
Félix Meyer’s old-vine Pinot Blanc from the slopes of Katzenthal, in Alsace, has long overdelivered in the role of the proverbial “crisp white” for which we long.
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
From the exceedingly fine and elegant nose to the creamy and lacy texture, the overall balance and touch, and its hint of salty freshness, this wine shows how understated, finessed, and downright glorious dry Pinot Gris can be in Alsace.
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
The incredibly complex aromas soar out of the glass with an underpinning note of rose petal, the full-bodied and almost oily texture is classic.
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
Serve it to friends as an apéritif and listen for wows, because this wine’s perfume provokes wows.
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
Meyer-Fonné’s 2022 has a floral, perfumed nose—perhaps from a splash of Muscat?—and a soft mid-palate with green apple and pear—surely a sign of Pinot Blanc in there.
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
This bottle gives some of my favorite grand cru Rieslings a run for their money with a nose evoking peach skin and pear and a palate that ripples with fresh acidity.
France | Alsace
Félix Meyer’s old-vine Pinot Blanc from the slopes of Katzenthal, in Alsace, has long overdelivered in the role of the proverbial “crisp white” for which we long.
France | Alsace
From the exceedingly fine and elegant nose to the creamy and lacy texture, the overall balance and touch, and its hint of salty freshness, this wine shows how understated, finessed, and downright glorious dry Pinot Gris can be in Alsace.
France | Alsace
The incredibly complex aromas soar out of the glass with an underpinning note of rose petal, the full-bodied and almost oily texture is classic.
France | Alsace
Serve it to friends as an apéritif and listen for wows, because this wine’s perfume provokes wows.
France | Alsace
Meyer-Fonné’s 2022 has a floral, perfumed nose—perhaps from a splash of Muscat?—and a soft mid-palate with green apple and pear—surely a sign of Pinot Blanc in there.
France | Alsace
This bottle gives some of my favorite grand cru Rieslings a run for their money with a nose evoking peach skin and pear and a palate that ripples with fresh acidity.
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