Domaine Ostertag : Pinot Gris Grand cru "Muenchberg" A360P 2022

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Pinot Gris Grand Cru "Muenchberg" A360P 2022 from Domaine Ostertag

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a bright golden-yellow hue.

Nose

The nose opens on a floral bouquet, accompanied by light citrus and pineapple notes. Spicy touches enrich the aromatic palette, while a subtle hint of oak adds complexity.

Palate

On the palate, this wine impresses with its pronounced minerality and broad, expansive mouthfeel. The texture reveals a fine complexity that captivates, carried by a delicate, salivating minerality that lends remarkable elegance. While the wine shows a certain breadth for a white, it retains a harmonious balance. The finish stands out for its length and great finesse, where floral and spicy notes linger deliciously.

Food and wine pairings

This Pinot Gris Grand Cru "Muenchberg" A360P 2022 pairs beautifully with fine fish in sauce, poultry in cream sauces, spicy Asian dishes, as well as aged soft cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve this Pinot Gris Grand Cru "Muenchberg" A360P 2022 at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. This wine has exceptional aging potential and can be cellared until around 2042.

An atypical, mineral Alsace Grand Cru from Domaine Ostertag

The estate

Established in 1966 by Adolphe and Irma Ostertag with just 20 ares of vines, Domaine Ostertag now spans 15 hectares in Epfig, in the Bas-Rhin. Arthur Ostertag, the third generation, has run the estate since 2015 alongside his father André, an iconic figure who transformed the domaine as early as 1980. A pioneer of biodynamics in Alsace and certified organic since 1997, the estate stands out for its artisanal approach focused on expressing its terroirs—most notably the Grand Cru Muenchberg, for which André was instrumental in achieving classification in 1992. This excellence has earned it three stars from the Revue du Vin de France.

The vineyard

Muenchberg, whose name means "the Monks' Mountain", is an outstanding terroir in Alsace. This cadastral parcel A360P covers 0.50 hectares of Pinot Gris within the 2.10 hectares owned by the estate in this Grand Cru. Facing due south in a natural amphitheater, the vineyard benefits from an ideal altitude of between 250 and 300 meters. The soil, 250 million years old, is composed of pink sandstone and volcanic sediments crossed by a limestone vein. The vines, replanted in 1982, have been farmed biodynamically since 1998.

This cuvée takes its name from its cadastral code A360P due to an atypical history. The wine was repeatedly denied the "Muenchberg Grand Cru" appellation by tasting panels because of its oak-driven style, deemed atypical for the appellation (refusals in 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992 and 2000). This singularity in no way diminished the exceptional quality of this wine, which authentically expresses its unique terroir.

Winemaking and aging

The 2022 harvest took place by hand in early September, without seeking over-ripeness, in order to preserve the wine’s freshness and balance. Pinot Gris Grand Cru "Muenchberg" A360P 2022 is crafted using an approach that respects both fruit and terroir. The grapes are gently pressed as whole clusters for 10 hours. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts, followed by full malolactic fermentation. Aging is carried out in Burgundian oak barrels made from oak sourced in the Vosges forests. Unlike reductive varieties such as Riesling, Pinot Gris benefits from oxidative winemaking in barrels, allowing it to fully reveal its character.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Gris.