2015 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Chalumaux”Comtesse de Chérisey
France | Burgundy
$120
Producers
Year in and year out, Kuentz-Bas proves that you do not need to pay a premium for wines steeped in tradition. Olivier Raffin ferments this dry and generous white wine in foudres assembled in 1894, during the construction of the domaine’s “new” cellar. Given their age and how many vintages of wine they have held, these massive wooden casks no longer impart flavor to the wine. Their main purpose is to allow a slow exchange of oxygen between the inside and outside of the vessel, which enhances fermentation and adds complexity to the aromas. Floral and honeyed, this Pinot Blanc has everything you want in a weeknight white wine and more.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2018 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 70% Pinot Blanc, 30% Auxerrois |
Appellation: | Alsace |
Country: | France |
Region: | Alsace |
Producer: | Kuentz-Bas |
Winemaker: | Samuel Tottoli |
Vineyard: | 25 - 45 years, 4 ha |
Soil: | Loess, Silt, Limestone |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 13% |
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace | Alsace
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace | Alsace
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace | Alsace
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace | Alsace Grand Cru
6-Bottle Sampler France | 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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I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171
Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol
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