Andre Ostertag Alsace Tasting - The Living Vine
Date: May 02/11, Mon Time: 03:00:00-07:00:00 Style: Drop-In
Andre Ostertag, Alsace Tasting - Members were invited to meet Andre Ostertag and try 6 new releases from one of Alsace's great Domaines.
Jamie Goode aka The Wine Anorak says: "André Ostertag has been running his Domaine along biodynamic lines since 1998, although it's not easy to fit him into the usual biodynamic pigeonhole: he doesn't look and talk biodynamic. This fairly young domaine, which began life in the 1960s, has 13 hectares of vines split among 75 plots in five villages. The wines are quite simply brilliant."
David Schildknecht from The Wine Advocate says: "Andre Ostertag continues to render some of the most distinctively delicious and thought-provoking wines in Alsace. He now has 11620 parcels among his 35 acres, and no grower of my acquaintance gives more thought to aesthetic and stylistic considerations when it comes to vinifying and assembling his many lots."
The following wines were sampled:
1) RIESLING Vignoble d'E 750mL 2009 − $26.95
Very ripe aromas of vineyard peach and pineapple, with a light lactic quality. Rich and broad, with sound pineappley acidity giving life to the stone fruit flavors. Nicely dry but not austere, finishing with decent length and little sign of heat. The least extreme of Ostertag's 2009 rieslings, the lowest in alcohol at 13.5% and the highest in acidity at 7 grams per liter.
2) GEWURZTRAMINER Vignoble d'E 750ml 2009 - $34.95
88pts = IWC "Pale yellow. Sexy, varietally classic aromas of apricot, citrus peel, ginger and cured meat. Silky, rich and sweet (40 g/l r.s.), but with surprising spine for 2009 gewurztraminer thanks to well-integrated acidity. The flavors of nectarine, candied lemon peel and ginger build nicely toward the back end. Nicely balanced, persistent wine, and not at all alcoholic (just 12.8%). This might well have become top-heavy had it fermented more of its sugar."
3) CLOS MATHIS Riesling 750mL 2009 - $39.95
Bright medium yellow. Musky, stony, slightly high-toned aromas of ripe peach and apple, complicated by a toasty, leesy element that reminded me of Champagne. Fat, broad, savory and dry (just 3 grams per liter r.s.), with a palate-dusting stony quality dominating.
4) ZELLBERG Pinot Gris 750mL 2009 - $49.95
2007 RP = 90pts
5) MUENCHBERG Grand Cru Riesling 750mL 2009 - $49.95
90 pts = IWC - Sexy aromas of white peach and coconut, lifted by lime and mint; the vineyard character comes through in spite of the wine's high alcohol. Then slightly sweet, supple and very ripe in the mouth, with an enticing white peach flavor. Distinctly less soil-driven than the 2008.
6) FRONHOLZ Grand Cru V.T. Gewurztraminer 750mL 2008- $69.95
91 = IWC - Full straw-yellow. Pungent aromas of pineapple, fresh apricot, caraway seed and musky flowers: very
gewurztraminer! A tangy, exotic, very sweet fruit bomb, with spicy, meaty and floral hints giving the
mid-palate a surprisingly light touch. Finishes quite sweet and suave, with no phenolic harshness.
Lovely wine.
Very nice time had by all.
