17th May 2018
Kientzheim
Today I visited Domaine Paul Blanck and was met by Philippe Blanck, co owner and winemaker at this beautiful winery.
The domaine has four Lieux-dits (named sites) and three Grand Cru.
The Vallee de Kayersberg, in which Kientzheim nestles, is carpeted with a patchwork of granite, marl chalk and clay soils. It is this unique compostion of differing soils that give the wines of Alsace their particular character.
First, Philippe began by explaining to me how much he believes in the harmony of his vineyards and the importance of minimal intervention, allowing the natural elements to play a vital role in the genesis of his wines.
To begin with we tasted the 2016 classic Gewurztraminer, a wine that displays rich notes of spice, lychee and orange. The acidity is delicate and will allow this wine to age gracefully.
Next was the 2015 Altenbourg Gewurztraminer. Here the perfume that came from the glass displayed ripe notes of rose, Turkish delight, lychee, and peach. However the palate was a flourish of spiced ripe tropical fruits combined with a delightful tingle of acidity on the palate.
With the 2012 Vielles Vignes Furstentum Gewurztraminer we see the development of more complex and powerful aromas, it is a wine filled with both harmony and drama. Luxuriant with rich spice, honeysuckle, nectarine and pear the palate is full-bodied with a beautiful silky mouth coating finish.
To complete the tasting Philippe uncorked his 2012 Mambourg Grand Cru Gewurztraminer, an intense and remarkable wine that sings with succulent aromas and flavours. It is a wine that reveals its unique depth and structure from the marl soil, to its unique position and micro-climate. A wine which expresses mandarin skin, red apple, hints of fennel, sugared pears and spiced pineapple.
