Eugenue Klipfel Pinot Gris | Alsace, France

£13.40

Pinot Gris is the French name for Pinot Grigio and in Alsace produces a fuller wine than ‘run of the mill’ Italians.

Pinot Gris, one of the ‘noble grapes’ of Alsace is less stylistically defined than Riesling or Gewurztraminer. It is generally a full-bodied, round and balanced wine with moderate acidity. Pinot Gris was once a dry wine, but many now tend to be bottled with some residual sugar.

Frederick Blanck, speaking for a new generation of winemakers, put the Pinot Gris situation into perspective. “Nobody really knows yet how great Pinot Gris can be. It is a tough variety to grow; with a big crop you get good fruitiness and high acidity, and with a small crop you get great complexity but high alcohol…. In the future, we and many others in Alsace will be making more dry-style Pinot Gris.”

Klipfel’s vineyards are located at the foot of the Vosges mountains, between Marlenheim and Thann.

Vinification is by traditional wine-making: grapes are harvested at perfect ripeness, with one or two weeks of alcoholic fermentation under controlled temperatures. The wine is then racked, filtered and bottled.

Pinot Gris is the French name for Pinot Grigio and in Alsace produces a fuller wine than ‘run of the mill’ Italians.

Pinot Gris, one of the ‘noble grapes’ of Alsace is less stylistically defined than Riesling or Gewurztraminer. It is generally a full-bodied, round and balanced wine with moderate acidity. Pinot Gris was once a dry wine, but many now tend to be bottled with some residual sugar.

Frederick Blanck, speaking for a new generation of winemakers, put the Pinot Gris situation into perspective. “Nobody really knows yet how great Pinot Gris can be. It is a tough variety to grow; with a big crop you get good fruitiness and high acidity, and with a small crop you get great complexity but high alcohol…. In the future, we and many others in Alsace will be making more dry-style Pinot Gris.”

Klipfel’s vineyards are located at the foot of the Vosges mountains, between Marlenheim and Thann.

Vinification is by traditional wine-making: grapes are harvested at perfect ripeness, with one or two weeks of alcoholic fermentation under controlled temperatures. The wine is then racked, filtered and bottled.

Alsace, France

Grapes: Pinot Gris

Tasting Notes: Pale yellow with green glints, this Pinot Gris is a basket of fresh fruit from yellow peaches to raspberry. Spicy, it expresses its richness on lightly roasted notes with a delicately honeyed and fresh finish.

ABV: 12.5%

Vintage: 2022

Ageing potential:

Attributes:

Closure: cork

Farming:

Sustainability info:

Winemaker:

Winery link

Food pairing suggestions: the perfect companion for cold buffets, asparagus, salads and fish.