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2022 Pinot Blanc “Vieilles Vignes”
Meyer-FonnéThere 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, its bright flavors signaling a new chapter to the day in which pleasure and relaxation reign.
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.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2022 |
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 |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2019 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru “Furstentum”
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2021 Riesling Grand Cru “Mandelberg Vieilles Vignes”
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The small, sunny Mandelberg cru is already a classic through and through—petrol notes with lush pear, honey, and a tart bite of green apple.
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.
2019 Pinot Gris “Dorfburg”
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That grapes can be cajoled and fashioned to make such a liquid is miraculous.
2020 Riesling Grand Cru “Kaefferkopf”
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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!
2020 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru “Wineck-Schlossberg”
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That grapes can be cajoled and fashioned to make such a liquid is miraculous. This aroma is beyond belief.
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.
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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.
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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2019 Riesling Grand Cru “Pfersigberg Trois Châteaux”
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2019 Riesling Grand Cru “Pfersigberg Trois Châteaux”
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2022 Pinot Blanc
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2019 Pinot Gris “Réserve”
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2018 Pinot Gris Grand Cru Sommerberg “Wibtal”
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2021 Riesling Grand Cru “Kaefferkopf”
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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