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2023 Pinot Noir “Les Jardins”
Domaine OstertagThe Alsatians cannot subsist solely on white wines, believe it or not, so they planted some Pinot Noir here and there to mix it up. Here are three reasons to start paying attention to Alsace’s Pinot Noirs:
1. NOVELTY: Due to increasingly consistent ripening, talented Alsatian vignerons have been taking their vin rouge more and more seriously. Alsace is no longer synonymous only with world-class whites.
2. FLAVOR PROFILE: Alsatian Pinot has a character of its own. Dark and spicy with an earthiness that recalls a walk in the forest, this bottling bears that unmistakable signature.
3. VALUE: Great producers like Ostertag are crafting delicious Pinots at prices that do not come close to their Burgundian counterparts.
This one from Ostertag has no aspirations of grandeur; rather, its purpose is to quench thirst, inspire joy, and wash down simple yet gratifying snacks. Vivid fruit marks the aroma, like candied cherry with a hint of red berries. The silky-smooth feel on the palate and tangy, sweet-tart finish make this charmer a refreshing choice for pâté and soft cheeses.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2023 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Pinot Noir |
Appellation: | Alsace |
Country: | France |
Region: | Alsace |
Producer: | Domaine Ostertag |
Winemaker: | Arthur Ostertag |
Vineyard: | 20+ yrs, 0.5 ha |
Soil: | Gravel, Clay |
Aging: | Ages in stainless steel tanks for 9 months |
Farming: | Biodynamic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region
2020 Riesling “Fronholz”
France | Alsace
Fronholz’s vibrant mix of fruit and earth, flesh and structure, is Domaine Ostertag’s hallmark.
2023 Vin Orange “The New Chapter”
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Arthur Ostertag’s “Les Aventures de l'Agneau Masqué” series of orange wines have a new name each vintage.
2020 Pinot Gris “Zellberg”
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Hot stone and white pepper liven up the backbone of this extraordinarily complex, unique white.
2020 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Florimont”
France | Alsace
Everything that comes from Domaine Albert Boxler seems to have an extra dash of magic, and this debut bottling of Pinot Gris from the grand cru of Florimont is no exception.
2019 Riesling “Le Berceau, lieu dit Pflanzer”
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Imagine if in Alsace, deep beneath the earth, there were a Riesling aquifer...
2021 Riesling Grand Cru “Muenchberg”
France | Alsace
Decidedly lean in its youth, but with hints of glycerin, apple wax, and resin that will evolve into lavish layers as it ages.
2020 Riesling “Heissenberg”
France | Alsace
Lush fruit, stony flavors, and completely dry...you will be thinking twice about why you didn’t buy more!
2022 Riesling “Clos Mathis”
France | Alsace
Delicious alongside black cod in miso soy marinade.
2021 Pinot Gris “Fronholz”
France | Alsace
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.
2022 Pinot
France | Alsace
A fragrant cuvée full of peach skin, green guava, and passion fruit seeds.
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.
More from Alsace or France
2020 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Florimont”
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2019 Pinot Gris “Dorfburg”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2022 Pinot Gris
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2022 Pinot Blanc
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2022 Riesling
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2018 Gewurztraminer “Dorfburg Vielles Vignes”
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2020 Crémant d’Alsace Brut
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2022 Alsace Pinot Noir
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2019 Pinot Gris “Réserve”
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2018 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Brand”
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2023 Vin Orange “The New Chapter”
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2020 Sylvaner “Oolithe”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2020 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Florimont”
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2019 Pinot Gris “Dorfburg”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2022 Pinot Gris
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2022 Pinot Blanc
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2022 Riesling
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2018 Gewurztraminer “Dorfburg Vielles Vignes”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2020 Crémant d’Alsace Brut
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2022 Alsace Pinot Noir
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace
2019 Pinot Gris “Réserve”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2018 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Brand”
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2023 Vin Orange “The New Chapter”
Domaine Ostertag France | Alsace
2020 Sylvaner “Oolithe”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
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