Albert Boxler : Pinot Gris Grand Cru Sommerberg "Wibtal" 2019

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Pinot Gris Grand Cru Sommerberg "Wibtal" 2019 from Albert Boxler

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a pale yellow to golden hue, enhanced by subtle coppery and gray highlights typical of high-quality Alsatian Pinot Gris.

Nose

The nose opens with aromas of ripe pear and stone fruits, accompanied by delicate spicy notes. With aeration, a smoky, mineral dimension emerges—hallmark of the granitic terroir—enriched by nuances of white tea, honeysuckle, and beeswax.

Palate

On the palate, the wine charms with its generous texture and full structure, elevated by vibrant acidity and a mineral backbone. Flavors of ripe pear mingle with refreshing lemony accents, creating a remarkable balance between richness and precision. The finish lingers at length, persisting for more than thirty seconds, with a sustained mineral expression and subtle smoky notes.

Food and wine pairings

This Pinot Gris is an ideal match for Alsatian specialties such as aged Munster, foie gras, or tarte flambée. It also pairs beautifully with seafood, smoked salmon, sushi, lemon-and-herb roasted poultry, as well as spicy dishes from Asian and Indian cuisine, notably creamy curries.

Serving and cellaring

The Pinot Gris Grand Cru Sommerberg "Wibtal" 2019 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve through around 2032, or even beyond. It is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C.

A high-altitude Pinot Gris expressing the minerality of Grand Cru Sommerberg in Alsace

The estate

Founded in 1946 in Niedermorschwihr in Alsace, Domaine Albert Boxler now farms around 19 hectares of vines, a significant share of which lies on the Grands Crus Sommerberg and Brand. Led since 1996 by Jean Boxler, who has served as its president since 2021, this family estate embodies Alsatian excellence through its non-certified organic viticulture practiced since 2003, yields deliberately limited to 30–35 hl/ha on Grands Crus, and parcel-by-parcel vinification that showcases the nuances of each granitic terroir. Recognized with a five-star rating from Bettane & Desseauve, the estate favors Riesling and Pinot Gris of exceptional mineral purity, born of a non-interventionist cellar philosophy relying exclusively on old Alsatian foudres.

The vineyard

The Wibtal cuvée comes from the highest parcels of Grand Cru Sommerberg, located between 400 and 410 meters above sea level on the steep slopes overlooking Niedermorschwihr in Alsace. These vines, planted in 2000, are rooted in coarse granite soils dotted with limestone veins, giving the wine its distinctive minerality. The south and southeast exposure of this amphitheater-shaped vineyard maximizes sunshine while preserving the nighttime freshness essential to the wine’s balance. Entirely manual farming, made necessary by the extreme steepness of the terrain, allows meticulous attention to each vine.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage in Alsace was marked by a mild winter followed by a cool spring, encouraging measured vegetative growth. A hot, sunny summer, punctuated by adequate rainfall, enabled optimal ripening of the grapes. September, cool and dry, provided an ideal harvest window, achieving full maturity while preserving firm acidity—a hallmark of great Alsatian vintages.

Vinification and aging

The Pinot Gris Grand Cru Sommerberg "Wibtal" 2019 is vinified using traditional methods unchanged for several generations. After pressing and cold settling, fermentation occurs spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged for about a year in old Alsatian oak foudres, allowing complex aromatic development without pronounced oak influence. No fining is carried out and filtration remains minimal, thereby preserving the wine’s authenticity and natural richness.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Gris.