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Succumb to the Charms of Alsatian Pinot Noir
Succumb to the Charms of Alsatian Pinot Noir
by Tom Wolf by Tom Wolf
2022 Alsace Pinot Noir
2022 Alsace Pinot Noir


Alsatian Pinot Noir al fresco

A hundred-year-old foudre

Winemakers Jean-Baptiste and Laure Adam

Ammerschwihr, Alsace
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace | Alsace
In one of the most exciting developments in French wine in recent years, Alsace has become a source for excellent Pinot Noir. Domaines like Albert Boxler, Osterag, Meyer-Fonné, and Kuentz-Bas are making spectacular, distinct red wines from the grape. And because the eyes of Pinot Noir lovers are trained most heavily on nearby Burgundy, the best bottles from Alsace offer outstanding value across the price spectrum.
You won’t find a better value or introduction to Alsatian Pinot Noir than Kuentz-Bas’s. Clocking in at 12.5% alcohol, the 2022 is a light and joyous rendition of the grape. And while it spends much of its life in a grand 19th century foudres, its final destination should be an ice bucket on your next night out on the patio or porch. Biodynamic farming and the neutral old wooden barrels combine to deliver exceptional freshness and purity, making this vibrant Pinot remarkably well suited to a variety of meals, from vegetable-forward dishes to fish and, of course, grilled chicken. If you haven’t yet succumbed to the charms of Alsatian Pinot Noir, now is the time!


Alsatian Pinot Noir al fresco

A hundred-year-old foudre

Winemakers Jean-Baptiste and Laure Adam

Ammerschwihr, Alsace
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2022 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Pinot Noir |
Appellation: | Alsace |
Country: | France |
Region: | Alsace |
Producer: | Kuentz-Bas |
Vineyard: | 25 - 45 years |
Soil: | Loess, Silt, Limestone |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
More from this Producer or Region

2019 Muscat Grand Cru “Pfersigberg Trois Châteaux”
France | Alsace
Kuentz-Bas vinifies a glorious dry Muscat from grand cru Pfersigberg, an ample and fleshy white scented of ripe citrus, tropical flowers, and exotic fruits.

2022 Riesling Grand Cru “Eichberg”
France | Alsace
ou’ll want to open it alongside richer dishes, or ones that take the longest to make, those that deserve a layered and complex bottling to match.

2021 Riesling “Trois Châteaux”
France | Alsace
Racy and pure, with a full arsenal of fruit and ample style, this is a complete Alsatian Riesling experience.

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.

2019 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Eichberg Trois Châteaux”
France | Alsace
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.

Crémant d’Alsace Brut
France | Alsace
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.

2023 Pinot Blanc
France | Alsace
New to Alsatian wine? This is the perfect place to start.

2023 Riesling
France | Alsace
Bone-dry on the palate, it features intense, clean aromas with excellent minerality.

2019 Riesling Grand Cru “Eichberg”
France | Alsace
It’s a perfect palate cleanser with refreshing notes of lime granita and tart pineapple.

2019 Riesling Grand Cru “Pfersigberg Trois Châteaux”
France | Alsace
Pfersig means “peach,” and the wine’s subtle whispers of white peach are adorable, and then the bouquet keeps growing more expansive, more intense, grander.
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
2020 Riesling “Fronholz”
Domaine Ostertag France | Alsace
2022 Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg “Eckberg”
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2023 Riesling “Les Jardins”
Domaine Ostertag France | Alsace
2022 Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg “Dudenstein”
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2020 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru “Sporen”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2022 Gewurztraminer
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2019 Pinot Gris
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2018 Pinot Gris Réserve
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2022 Pinot Blanc
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2020 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Kaefferkopf”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2018 Pinot Gris “Dorfburg”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2019 Pinot Gris Réserve
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2020 Riesling “Fronholz”
Domaine Ostertag France | Alsace
2022 Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg “Eckberg”
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2023 Riesling “Les Jardins”
Domaine Ostertag France | Alsace
2022 Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg “Dudenstein”
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2020 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru “Sporen”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2022 Gewurztraminer
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2019 Pinot Gris
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2018 Pinot Gris Réserve
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2022 Pinot Blanc
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2020 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Kaefferkopf”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2018 Pinot Gris “Dorfburg”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2019 Pinot Gris Réserve
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
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