I have never been much of a fan of Pinot Blanc. The ones I’ve had from Alsace (my favorites) have been refreshing and pleasant at times, but simple quaffing wines. I recently tried a 2009 Messmer IGJ Schlossgarten Burrweiler GG Weissbugunder from the Pfalz, and I was completely blown away. I have never had Weissburgunder/Pinot Blanc that even approached this level of quality. It was a truly outstanding, thought-provoking white wine, one of the best I’ve had recently. I can’t find much information on the wine, but it had the soft, rich mouthfeel and flavor profile of a wine that had been made with extended lees contact. I wonder if it was even matured in some old oak barrels, because it had that kind of rich feel, but no noticable flavor of oak. Anyway, I am very interested in trying to find some other really high quality Pinot Blanc. Someone suggested Hiedler Maximum to me, so I have a couple of bottles of that on the way, but I’m still looking for other suggestions. The Gouges Perriere 1er Cru seems interesting, but I’m reading that it’s made from a white mutation of Pinot Noir that isn’t the same as the Pinot Blanc that we generally know elsewhere. Is that so? From those who have had it, is it still worth a look? I see the '06 available for a reasonable price, but there are a couple of notes of bottles that have already oxidized, and most other vintages are (to me) pricey for a roll of the dice. Are there any really nice Weissburgunder/Pinot Blanc wines that anyone can recommend?
I don’t have any others to recommend, but I thank you for recommending this one to me!
Ha, no problem.
I have enjoyed the Pinot Blanc Reserve from Dom. Albert Boxler in multiple vintages. It has always been rich, layered, complex, and outstanding - and occasionally profound.
It is rare that you will get a new world recommendation from me, but I would suggest 2011 Teutonic Wine Company Pinot Gris Maresh Vineyard. From Oregon. Not Pinot Blanc, I know, but I had to interject anyway. It is exactly what I want Pinot Gris to be.
Rebholz Weissburgunders can be absolutely amazing wines. I also like Wehrheim in the Pfalz as well.
Thanks for the recommendations so far. Keep 'em coming if anyone has more. Since shipping season is upon us (and I don’t expect to find many of these from MA distributor warehouses), I think this calls for some immediate exploration on my part.
I was just going to post “Boxler” when I read Bob’s post. They are subperb and can age a decade, without much issue. Really lovely stuff. Like their Sommerberg rieslings, they do more than one cuvee in most vintages, but they are all equally good. I had one a few weeks ago…and had a 2001 or 2002 in reserve for dinner Saturday, but…had no need to open it then. It’s still sitting on my counter, so…Barmes-Buecher also make really nice pinot blancs. They can be as complex as a good white burgundy…without the oak treatment. People dismiss them as “quafffing” wines, but I don’t. They are also relatively great values.
There used to be a great California Pinot Blanc from Chalone. But don’t get me started.
No surprise, even their Sylvaner is quite good.
Alto Adige! Numerous great producers but really special ones include Cantina Terlano, Elena Walch and Laimburg.
Just got some '07 Trimbach. Will report back when we open one.
Pillitteri 2008 Pinot Blanc icewine and Royal De Maria 2008 Winter Harvest Pinot Blanc icewine.
Yes the Gouges 1er cru ‘La Perriere’ Blanc is from a white mutation of Pinot Noir discovered by a Gouges in their vineyard sometime in the 30/40s [depending on whose account is read]. The grape is known as Pinot Gouges and the Gouges let other producers like Ponsot and Chevillon have it. However since all Pinots essentially have the same DNA, the terroir and winemaking are surely greater factors than any perceptible difference in between Pinot Gouges and Pinot Blanc.
Ponsot apparently used it for some years in a blend with Chardonnay and Aligote to make his 1er cru Morey St. Denis Clos des Monts Luisants although it was ultimately removed from the site in the early 90s and the Chardonnay in 2004 leaving the wine as 100% Aligote - AFAIK the only such 1er cru Burgundy made exclusively from that grape.
Robert Chevillon has also made a small quantity of a Nuits St Georges Blanc from Pinot Gouges but today their website refers to Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc although the latter might simply be considered interchangeable with Pinot ‘Gouges’ and called Pinot Blanc to avoid any possible confusion with the Gouges wines.
I remember that wine from the late 70s; very tasty but it was “large,” in the style of the Chardonnays of the day. I remember matching it up against the Ponsot MSD “Mont Luisants.” I had some of the more recent Chalone Pinot Blanc, and it was way over-oaked for my taste.
I’m more familiar with Pinot Blanc from Alsace; those wines are (IMHO) not designed to be “great” or showcase wines in any domaine’s portfolio. Rather, they are utilitarian wines for everyday drinking and match nicely with charcuterie and “simple” food.
The line on Chalone used to be “Line up all three and you think the Pinot Blanc is the Chardonnay but the Chenin will be the best wine…”
You left out the French Colombard, Roberto! (They used to market that under their Gavilan label.)
Not sure of the real, current situation chez Chevillon, but…they always explained there that their white NSG villages was from “white pinot noir” grapes obtained from Gouges…
I agree with Roberto about Alto Adige Pinot Blanc (which is usually labelled as Weissburgunder). The best examples come from high-altitude vineyards and are impressively minerally.
I like Rudi Pichler’s weissburgunder (smaragd kollmütz)…a lot of his wine’s have that lees contact character you describe, especially his grüners. Nice acid as well.