After Tanzer’s new Alsatian report came out this week, it reminded how much I have been wanting to try more Domaine Albert Boxler wines. The lone one I have found is the 2006 Brand (regular) Riesling a few years ago at a local shop, and it was terrific, all the more so in what I believe to be was a difficult year. Those E’s D’s and K’s look damn intriguing. Problem is, I can’t find the darn things.
Can anyone recommend a good merchant that carries the more fancy vineyard designations with regularity?
But, of all the world’s greatest winemakers/estates, Boxler might be the most poorly distributed in the US. Almost never have seen them in stores here. It’s a shame…as nobody makes a better assortment of rieslings in Alsace, in my view. And, these wines almost never disappoint…no matter what grape type …pinot blanc, sylvaner or riesling. (The gewurtz and pinto gris tend to be a little sweet.)
I visited Boxler this summer, and was told that the distributor in the US mostly sells to restaurants - there is very little available in stores. Their production numbers are extremely low - even at the vineyard they had sold out of all of their grand cru riesling (brand if i remember correctly).
Boxler is distributed by Chadderdon, the world’s most unfriendly and useless distributor. I used to be able to get the wines at several shops, but all stopped working with Chadderdon because they were such a pain in the ass.
This is no longer true. Chadderon has exited stage left, so to speak. The wines will be going to be sold by Harry Poulakakos’ new import company in the near future (or so it would seem). They bought of all of Chadderdon’s back stock, with hope to acquire the brand going forward.
A little different, Ian, from what I’d heard this summer…but things re: distribution in the US can only get better.
The Boxlers do a good amount of private customer distribution in Europe (I’ve visited 5-6 times, and every time someone from Belgium or Luxembourg is also visiting…or about to visit, particularly when I’ve been there on a weekend.) So…I don’t think they’ve minded not having a huge demand from the US, though they were aware of their US limitations.
What’s Mr. Poulakakos’ company name, and location? Thanks.
Robert Chadderdon liked the wines in his porfolio so much that he didn’t like to let go of them! Chambers Street, though. always seemed to have an inside track with him.
Locally there was a wine store that pursued Boxler for years, including carrying Chadderdon wines that didn’t sell as well. He never got Boxler. but when Whole Foods opened, there was Boxler in the mix.
By the way, if you’re looking to fill out an order with Age of Riesling, try the Stadlmann Mandel Hoh, from the zierfandler grape. Different and interesting. David Schildknecht said on eBob that it was the best bottling of zierfandler.
Good thread. By sheer coincidence, I was thinking earlier today that I’d like to find more sources of good Alsatian wines, and Boxler’s name crossed my mind.
Steve…just a little “warning”…other than the two Sylvaners…and maybe the riesling Brand…I forget, frankly, though I have tasted it and own some…these wines are all likely to be quite sweet, though very good…Boxler’s pinot gris and, particularly, their gewurtz wines tend to be very sweet. They are really a riesling specialist, IMO, though their pinot blancs are top drawer…and the sylvaner they make can be a real treat…and can age, too…