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The Proverbial Crisp White Wine
The Proverbial Crisp White Wine
by Anthony Lynch by Anthony Lynch
2018 Pinot Blanc “Vieilles Vignes”
2018 Pinot Blanc “Vieilles Vignes”
Félix Meyer
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace | Alsace
There comes a time every day—generally around 6 o’clock—when a hankering for something cold and crisp emanates from within. We crave a refreshing glass of white to alleviate thirst and cleanse the day’s lingering cocktail of doubts and worries, admittedly more antagonizing than usual in these surreal times.
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. It has obvious thirst-quenching properties, expressed in the form of perky acidity and a mouth-watering, almost smoky mineral note that grabs hold of the back of the palate. But it also carries generous flesh, like the succulent texture of farmers’ market stone fruits, enlivened by an exotic bolt of lime.
Perhaps due to the fifty-year-old vines, plus Félix’s liberal interpretation of “Pinot Blanc”—the blend also includes Pinot Gris and Pinot Auxerrois—this crisp blanc does far more than what its price point might suggest. The first glass may satisfy our craving for something cold quite swimmingly, but the second reveals a nuanced wine of real substance.
Félix Meyer
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2018 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 65% Pinot Auxerrois, 20% Pinot Blanc, 15% Pinot Gris |
Appellation: | Alsace |
Country: | France |
Region: | Alsace |
Producer: | Meyer-Fonné |
Winemaker: | Félix Meyer |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1965 and 1978, 2.5 ha |
Soil: | Granite with Mica, Calcareous Marl |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2018 Pinot Gris “Dorfburg”
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That grapes can be cajoled and fashioned to make such a liquid is miraculous. This aroma is beyond belief.
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This rich, gastronomic crémant with fine and elegant bubbles will have even the Champagne purist singing its praises.
2020 Sylvaner “Oolithe”
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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.
2017 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Sélection de Grains Nobles “Kaefferkopf” 500ml
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The nose just jumps out of the glass in a blaze of spicy, honeyed glory.
2022 Gewurztraminer Réserve
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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.
2022 Pinot Noir “Réserve”
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Wearing a distinctive terroir stamp of Alsace: deep, spicy, resinous, and reminiscent of a walk in the forest after a rain.
2020 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru “Wineck-Schlossberg”
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This wine showcases everything I seek for in a dry Gewurztraminer. The nose shows pure, delicate aromas of fresh lychee and exotic fruit.
2021 Pinot Noir “Altenbourg”
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This is a rich, ample, seductive Pinot with notes of tea leaves, strawberries, and blackberries.
2019 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Kaefferkopf”
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Meyer’s 2019 is lovely stuff—fermented dry, full-bodied in style, it shines at table in a multitude of gastronomic settings with kaleidoscopic range.
2017 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru “Furstentum”
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A slightly sweeter style of Gewurztraminer with opulent aromas and flavors to pair with any kind of spicy food.
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.
More from Alsace or France
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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.