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2019 Riesling Grand Cru “Muenchberg”
Domaine Ostertag
This is the reference wine of the entire Ostertag lineup, from an isolated grand cru in northern Alsace that is also the site of a monastery. It is a deep and cerebral wine, a long ager, from a vineyard with a complex mix of soil types. There is a lot of concentration and depth, an impression of a wine solidly built, sure of itself, and serene, with many layers to explore and new discoveries lurking around every corner. This 2019 is ready to enjoy now if you are so inclined but will further develop beautifully in your cellar.
—Dixon Brooke
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2019 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Riesling |
Appellation: | Alsace Grand Cru |
Country: | France |
Region: | Alsace |
Producer: | Domaine Ostertag |
Winemaker: | André Ostertag |
Vineyard: | 1.7 ha; From the Alsatian “muench” meaning monk, this vineyard is named for the Cistercian monks who originally planted vines here in the 11th-12th centuries. In a south-facing amphitheater in Nothalten at the foot of the Vosges mountains, the Muenchberg site combines volcanic sediment and the pink sandstone of the Vosges with a touch of limestone. |
Soil: | Volcanic Sediment, Pink Sandstone |
Farming: | Biodynamic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 14% |
More from this Producer or Region

2023 Les Vieilles Vignes de Sylvaner
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2021 Riesling Grand Cru “Muenchberg”
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Decidedly lean in its youth, but with hints of glycerin, apple wax, and resin that will evolve into lavish layers as it ages.

2023 Riesling “Les Jardins”
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Sometimes you just need a straightforward, delicious bottle of white wine to satisfy your thirst and brighten your meal. This is it.

2021 Riesling “Heissenberg”
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Lush fruit, stony flavors, and completely dry...you will be thinking twice about why you didn’t buy more!

2021 Riesling “Fronholz”
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This vintage might fool you for an oyster wine. Let it!

2020 Pinot Gris “Zellberg”
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Hot stone and white pepper liven up the backbone of this extraordinarily complex, unique white.

2022 Riesling “Clos Mathis”
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Delicious alongside black cod in miso soy marinade.

2021 Pinot Gris “Fronholz”
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Fronholz is a vineyard composed primarily of quartz, and the taste of an Ostertag wine from here is reminiscent of this stone: sleek, transparent, and brilliant.

2020 Riesling “Fronholz”
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Fronholz’s vibrant mix of fruit and earth, flesh and structure, is Domaine Ostertag’s hallmark.

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About The Producer
Domaine Ostertag
To call André Ostertag a revolutionary winemaker is to tell just half the story. He is a pioneer, certainly, but also an ardent environmentalist. After training in Burgundy, André returned to the family domaine in Alsace with renewed zeal: he lowered yields considerably and introduced viticultural and vinification techniques from other regions to his own home ground. He looks for the nuance of terroir rather than the typicity of a grape varietal. André rejects formulaic, scientifically engineered wines, and since going biodynamic in 1997, has been an active member of the natural farming community.
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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2020 Riesling “Pfoeller”
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2022 Riesling Grand Cru “Wineck Schlossberg”
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2023 Riesling
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2019 Pinot Gris Réserve
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2022 Riesling “Clos Mathis”
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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