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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 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 Riesling “Clos Mathis”
France | Alsace
Delicious alongside black cod in miso soy marinade.
2020 Riesling “Heissenberg”
France | Alsace
Lush fruit, stony flavors, and completely dry...you will be thinking twice about why you didn’t buy more!
2020 Pinot Gris “Les Jardins”
France | Alsace
Perfect for when a wine with a bit of extra weight and less acidity is called for.
2022 Les Vieilles Vignes de Sylvaner
France | Alsace
Beautiful aroma, silky mouthfeel, fresh with old-vine weight, interesting, and downright delicious.
2021 Pinot
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A fragrant cuvée full of peach skin, green guava, and passion fruit seeds.
2021 Riesling Grand Cru “Muenchberg”
France | Alsace
Ostertag’s “Mountain of the Monks” parcel has absolutely everything going for it.
2019 Riesling “Le Berceau, lieu dit Pflanzer”
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Imagine if in Alsace, deep beneath the earth, there were a Riesling aquifer...
2020 Pinot Gris “Zellberg”
France | Alsace
Hot stone and white pepper liven up the backbone of this extraordinarily complex, unique white.
2020 Riesling “Fronholz”
France | Alsace
Fronholz’s vibrant mix of fruit and earth, flesh and structure, is Domaine Ostertag’s hallmark.
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
2014 Crémant d’Alsace Brut Extra
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2019 Pinot Gris Réserve
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2016 Riesling Grand Cru “Sommerberg Dudenstein” Demi-Sec
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2019 Crémant d’Alsace Brut
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2020 Pinot Gris “Les Jardins”
Domaine Ostertag France | Alsace
2017 Pinot Gris Vendange Tardive “Hinterburg de Katzenthal”
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2019 Riesling Grand Cru “Pfersigberg Trois Châteaux”
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2022 Gentil d’Alsace
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2022 Riesling
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2022 Sylvaner
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2022 Edelzwicker
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2019 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Kaefferkopf”
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2014 Crémant d’Alsace Brut Extra
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2019 Pinot Gris Réserve
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2016 Riesling Grand Cru “Sommerberg Dudenstein” Demi-Sec
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2019 Crémant d’Alsace Brut
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2020 Pinot Gris “Les Jardins”
Domaine Ostertag France | Alsace
2017 Pinot Gris Vendange Tardive “Hinterburg de Katzenthal”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2019 Riesling Grand Cru “Pfersigberg Trois Châteaux”
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace
2022 Gentil d’Alsace
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2022 Riesling
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2022 Sylvaner
Albert Boxler France | Alsace
2022 Edelzwicker
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
2019 Pinot Gris Grand Cru “Kaefferkopf”
Meyer-Fonné France | Alsace
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171