Kientzler: Alsace (Ribeauville)

The Kientzler domaine is a small family-run estate consisting of just 12 hectares of vines, of which 3.7 hectares are classified Grand Cru. Riesling and Gewürztraminer make up about half of the families vineyards and five other varieties also contribute to the Domaines output of  approximately 6,000 cases.

The families vineyards centre around the three Grand Cru’s which border the village of Ribeauville. ‘Geisberg’ is the smallest of the three facing full south, ‘Kirchberg’ is slightly larger with a warmer south-west facing aspect, and ‘Osterberg’, the largest of the Ribeauville Grand Cru’s which faces east south-east. The average age of the vines here is about 40 years.

“One of the most talented Winemakers in Alsace…..he has Riesling and Gewürztraminer growing in prime sites and it is what he manages to do with these that ranks his wines among the very best in Alsace. Although his generic Riesling has great class and finesse, his Grand Cru ‘Geisberg’ and Grand Cru ‘Osterberg’ are very much finer. The ‘Geisberg’ is the riper and more opulent, with a wisp of smokiness to the fruit, the ‘Osterberg’ is more classic and flinty, requiring longer in bottle.”

“The Geisberg is immense and rivals with the greatest wines of the world” Les Meilleurs Vins de France 2011

 2010 Pinot Blanc
From 100% Auxerrois. Shows the fine floral perfume and fresh acidity so typical of this variety and village. Finishing dry with length and persistence.

 2009 Pinot Gris  (stelvin seal)
Ripe and exotic with a hint of honeyed sweetness with restraint and finesse. Fine citric and stone fruit flavours with hints of smoke and ample acidity.

2010 Gewurztraminer
A fine and fresh and delicately perfumed Gewurztraminer with restraint and lovely fine acidity buffering its richness. Fine elegant and restrained.

2009 Riesling
Classic lime and citrus zest aromas backed by discrete minerality. Wonderfully pure and intense for this level. Fine precise and beautifully balanced.

2010 Pinot Gris Grand cru ‘Kirchberg’
Just 800 bottles produced of this classic racy Pinot Gris. With just 7 grams/litre of residual sugar this fine and fresh Gris starts quite slowly and builds with air becoming more expressive and exotic with time but always remaining fine long and fresh with lovely acidity to close.

2010 Sylvaner

2008 Riesling Grand cru “Osterberg” – very limited

2008 Riesling Grand cru “Geisberg” – very limited
From a steep rocky vineyard behind the village of Ribeauville comes this stunning wine, one of the most classic and long-lived dry Rieslings in Alsace.

2004 Riesling Grand cru “Geisberg” cuvee exceptionelle – very limited
This remarkable wine sports residual sugar of about 20 gms/ltr to balance its superb acidity and fruit intensity. This will cellar magnificently.

2001 Riesling Grand cru “Geisberg” SGN (selection grains noble) – very limited
A stunning sweet wine with residual sugar of about 200 gms/ltr balanced by superb acidity. So intense and yet so moreish..!!