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2017 Riesling
Kuentz-BasIntroducing this bottling to readers in our December 1997 newsletter, Kermit wrote, “If you have a soft spot for dry, steely Riesling, you won’t find one more typical, and at such a painless price.” The twenty-two years since then have witnessed a few transitions at Kuentz-Bas, and yet that claim is as true today as ever. Olivier Raffin took over the helm in 2017, and in his first vintage, he has produced a white wine that is pure and typique of Alsatian Riesling, perhaps the noblest of the region’s four “noble” grape varieties (the other three being Muscat, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer). This dry and mineral blanc carries notes of orchard fruit, chamomile, and honey. The warmth of the vintage, combined with the domaine’s practice of completing malolactic fermentation, created a white wine that has generous body while retaining great acidity and freshness. This is textbook Alsatian Riesling, a standard that is as essential at Kuentz-Bas now as it was when we started importing their wines more than two decades ago.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2017 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Riesling |
Appellation: | Alsace |
Country: | France |
Region: | Alsace |
Producer: | Kuentz-Bas |
Winemaker: | Samuel Tottoli |
Vineyard: | 25 - 45 years, 4 ha |
Soil: | Loess, Silt, Limestone |
Aging: | Slow fermentation (2-6 months) takes place in oak foudres over 100 years old |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2020 Pinot Blanc
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New to Alsatian wine? This is the perfect place to start.
2018 Pinot Gris Réserve
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Earthy Pinot Gris as dramatic and flinty as this, with a hint of residual sugar, demands an assertive pairing; try it with smoked sausage and mustard.
2016 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Florimont”
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Unlike light, crisp Italian Pinot Grigio, the grape achieves a sun-drenched plumpness that translates to a lusciousness on the palate.
2020 Riesling “Trois Châteaux”
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Racy and pure, with a full arsenal of fruit and ample style, this is a complete Alsatian Riesling experience.
2018 Riesling Grand Cru “Geisberg”
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This mouthwatering and impeccably balanced Riesling is a testament to the majestic heights Alsace’s grands crus can reach.
2019 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Eichberg Trois Châteaux”
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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.
2020 Riesling
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Bone-dry on the palate, it features intense, clean aromas with excellent minerality.
Crémant d’Alsace Brut
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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.
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.
2022 Alsace Pinot Noir
France | Alsace
Bright, lively, and fun, with just the right of amount of tannin for some chew as well.
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
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2018 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Brand”
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2022 Pinot Noir “Réserve”
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2022 Edelzwicker
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2020 Riesling “Trois Châteaux”
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2020 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Florimont”
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2018 Crémant d’Alsace Brut
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Vintage Chart Mentality
Vintage Chart Mentality
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch