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Crémant d’Alsace Brut Extra
Meyer-FonnéMeyer’s bone-dry Crémant is no Champagne imitation—it is an entity of its own.
Crémant d’Alsace is often thought of as a bargain alternative to Champagne, and for good reason: at just $25, Meyer-Fonné’s Crémant can satisfy even the most finicky palates. And yet, it would be a mistake to think of this simply as a substitute for a pricier bottle of bubbly—Alsatian sparkling is much more than that, and here’s why:
- Soil: unlike Champagne, where chalk reigns, Alsace is home to a diversity of soil types, each of which lends different characteristics to the wines. Félix Meyer sources his Crémant from primarily granitic soils with alluvial deposits, so while you won’t find that almost gritty chalkiness that characterizes Champagne, you can expect a slightly softer, almost spicy minerality that is just as mouth-watering.
- Climate: Alsace is drier and sunnier than Champagne, thanks to the rain shadow effect from the Vosges. This means healthier grapes and consistent ripeness, so no need for chaptalization in lean years or high dosages to balance out aggressive acidities.
- Grape varieties: the region boasts a palette of cépages that bring an extra aromatic element to its wines. Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir are responsible for this Crémant’s perfume of flowers and crisp orchard fruit—a real charmer.
- Winemaking and élevage: while also crafted in the méthode champenoise, Meyer’s Crémant spends just one year on its lees prior to disgorgement, much less than is commonly practiced in Champagne. Instead of creamy, leesy brioche notes, you can enjoy the lively fresh fruit nuances of a younger wine.
Meyer’s bone-dry Crémant is no Champagne imitation—it is an entity of its own, and you can bet we’ll be sipping it all summer long.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | sparkling |
Vintage: | NV |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 60% Pinot Auxerrois, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Blanc, 5% Pinot Noir |
Appellation: | Crémant d'Alsace |
Country: | France |
Region: | Alsace |
Producer: | Meyer-Fonné |
Winemaker: | François & Félix Meyer |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1972 and 2009 |
Soil: | Granitic Colluvium, Alluvium |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 12% |
More from this Producer or Region
2017 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru “Furstentum”
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2022 Muscat “Vignoble de Katzenthal”
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Serve it to friends as an apéritif and listen for wows, because this wine’s perfume provokes wows.
2021 Pinot Noir “Altenbourg”
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This is a rich, ample, seductive Pinot with notes of tea leaves, strawberries, and blackberries.
2021 Edelzwicker
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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.
2020 Riesling Grand Cru “Wineck Schlossberg”
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You’ll detect a steely quality on the finish, and the slightest hint of the petrol often associated with Riesling. Delicious!
2019 Pinot Gris “Dorfburg”
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That grapes can be cajoled and fashioned to make such a liquid is miraculous.
2022 Pinot Gris “Réserve”
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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.
2020 Riesling Grand Cru “Kaefferkopf”
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Power, intensity, and complexity combine to bring us a Riesling for the ages.
2021 Gentil d’Alsace
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A fragrant blend of mostly Riesling and Muscat, Félix Meyer’s organically grown Gentil is crisp and lean and works like a reset button for your palate.
2021 Riesling “Vignoble de Katzenthal”
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This Riesling “Katz,” as we call it, is a beautifully linear and chiseled style of Riesling, fresh and pure.
About The Producer
Meyer-Fonné
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.
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Foret Noire Griotte d’Alsace Variété Montmorency et Kirsch
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2017 Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives “Boland”
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2017 Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives “Boland”
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2020 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Brand”
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2020 Sylvaner “Oolithe”
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2018 Pinot Gris Grand Cru Sommerberg “Wibtal”
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2020 Riesling “Heissenberg”
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2017 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Sélection de Grains Nobles “Kaefferkopf” 500ml
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2021 Riesling “Vignoble de Katzenthal”
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Where the newsletter started
Where the newsletter started
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch