Notify me
2015 Alsace Pinot Noir
Kuentz-BasAlsace may be best known for its racy and perfumed whites, but as we have witnessed in the last few years, the region has serious potential to produce fine Pinot Noir, too. A dry and increasingly warm climate, along with myriad soil types that give rise to diverse expressions of the grape, make Alsace the source of some truly impressive reds, which often come at great value. At Kuentz-Bas, winemaker Samuel Tottoli sources his Pinot Noir from vineyards of marl and limestone in the village of Husseren-les-Châteaux. Thanks to the beautifully ripe, healthy harvest in 2015, he was able to vinify using a large proportion (roughly half) of whole grape clusters, without de-stemming. This semi-carbonic maceration—a technique traditionally employed in Beaujolais—gives loads of lively, juicy fruit, notes of sweet spice, and dangerously supple tannins. The wine was then aged in foudres and bottled without filtration. Watch out: this Pinot goes down almost too easily.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2015 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Pinot Noir |
Appellation: | Alsace |
Country: | France |
Region: | Alsace |
Producer: | Kuentz-Bas |
Winemaker: | Samuel Tottoli |
Vineyard: | 25 - 45 years |
Soil: | Loess, Silt, Limestone |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region
2018 Riesling Grand Cru “Geisberg”
France | Alsace
This mouthwatering and impeccably balanced Riesling is a testament to the majestic heights Alsace’s grands crus can reach.
2020 Riesling “Trois Châteaux”
France | Alsace
Racy and pure, with a full arsenal of fruit and ample style, this is a complete Alsatian Riesling experience.
2019 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Eichberg Trois Châteaux”
France | Alsace
You’ll want to pair this with a roast chicken or duck, or grilled sausages, when you are in the mood to forego a red with the main course.
2022 Alsace Pinot Noir
France | Alsace
April Club Gourmand ~ Bright, lively, and fun, with just the right of amount of tannin for some chew as well.
2016 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Florimont”
France | Alsace
Unlike light, crisp Italian Pinot Grigio, the grape achieves a sun-drenched plumpness that translates to a lusciousness on the palate.
2020 Pinot Blanc
France | Alsace
New to Alsatian wine? This is the perfect place to start.
Crémant d’Alsace Brut
France | Alsace
There is a rich, toasty complexity from lees aging, which highlights the delicate aromas you’ll find in your glass: honey, nectarine, citrus, and summer flowers.
2021 Edelzwicker
France | Alsace
Meyer-Fonné’s 2021 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.
2019 Riesling Grand Cru “Geisberg”
France | Alsace
This mouthwatering and impeccably balanced Riesling is a testament to the majestic heights Alsace’s grands crus can reach.
2020 Riesling Grand Cru “Wineck Schlossberg”
France | Alsace
You’ll detect a steely quality on the finish, and the slightest hint of the petrol often associated with Riesling. Delicious!
About The Producer
Kuentz-Bas
More than two hundred years of tradition and vineyard pedigree have made the wines of Kuentz-Bas perennial favorites. However, when the family sold the property to famed vigneron Jean-Baptiste Adam in 2004, many wondered what direction the new team would take. Adam, like the estates former owners, has a reputation for being an advocate of Alsatian terroir, and he is the fourteenth generation to continue a family winemaking tradition that began as early as 1614. The wines are more open than ever while still reflecting the unmistakable character of the vineyards that clients have come to expect from Kuentz-Bas.
About The Region
Alsace
Tragically, Alsace might be the most misunderstood wine region of France. In spite of its long history of viticulture and tremendous diversity of pedigreed terroirs, a past fraught with marketing mishaps has left consumers baffled as to what exactly to expect inside one of these mysterious tall, thin bottles.
The good news, on the other hand, is that a new wave of quality-oriented growers is working hard to put Alsace in its rightful place as one of the world’s most fascinating sources of fine white wine. By embracing tradition, respecting terroir, and making a concerted effort to better communicate the countless virtues their wines have to offer, they have succeeded in putting Alsace back on the map.
Crafted from a number of grape varieties and beautifully interpreting the region’s mosaic of soil types, our Alsace imports are by and large dry whites offering exceptional versatility at table. While each of these selections is ready to be uncorked tonight, the finest among them are also capable of maturing for many, many years in a cool cellar. Expect kaleidoscopic aromatics, lively acidities, and loads of terroir transparency in these skillfully crafted masterpieces. Enjoy a foray into the thrilling world of the world’s most underrated wine region, and certainly do not hesitate to contact our sales staff with any questions as you take off on this mouth-watering adventure.
More from Alsace or France
2020 Pinot Blanc
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2021 Riesling Grand Cru “Muenchberg”
Domaine Ostertag France | Alsace
2020 Syrah “Le Samson”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2022 Gewurztraminer Réserve
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2022 Alsace Pinot Noir
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace
2021 Riesling
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2017 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Sélection de Grains Nobles “Kaefferkopf” 500ml
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2017 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru “Furstentum”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2019 Riesling Grand Cru “Geisberg”
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace
2020 Sylvaner “Oolithe”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2021 Edelzwicker Réserve
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2021 Riesling “Réserve”
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2020 Pinot Blanc
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2021 Riesling Grand Cru “Muenchberg”
Domaine Ostertag France | Alsace
2020 Syrah “Le Samson”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2022 Gewurztraminer Réserve
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2022 Alsace Pinot Noir
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace
2021 Riesling
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2017 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Sélection de Grains Nobles “Kaefferkopf” 500ml
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2017 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru “Furstentum”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2019 Riesling Grand Cru “Geisberg”
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace
2020 Sylvaner “Oolithe”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2021 Edelzwicker Réserve
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2021 Riesling “Réserve”
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
For the wines that I buy I insist that the winemaker leave them whole, intact. I go into the cellars now and select specific barrels or cuvées, and I request that they be bottled without stripping them with filters or other devices. This means that many of our wines will arrive with a smudge of sediment and will throw a more important deposit as time goes by, It also means the wine will taste better.