2010 Marc Tempe, Pinot Blanc, Zellenberg, Alsace, France.
The Marc Tempe, all biodynamic, 2010 Zellenberg Pinot Blanc is absolutely gorgeous and just might be the best Pinot Blanc I’ve ever had, and I highly recommend grabbing this beauty up when you see it. Tempe is a very shy individual and has totally dedicated his life to making the finest wines from all organic vineyard sites, he is very much a believer in biodynamics and was inspired by the famed Nicholas Joly who is the father of modern biodynamic winemaking from the Loire Valley and like Joly, Tempe believes nature and terroir make wine. The lineup of 2010 Tempe wines showcases his mastery or most precisely the great terroir and the nature that come out in his wines, the Zellenberg whites are all stunning and glorious in finesse and detail, especially this spellbinding 2010 Zellenberg Pinot Blanc. Marc Tempe’s Pinot Blanc starts with incredible intensity and never stops impressing from nose to finish, it has soul, class and character not usually found to this degree in this varietal with an extra dimension of flavor and structure on par with Grand Cru class wines found in Alsace, it really sings a sirens song. The nose has a mineral laced bouquet of wet stones, crystallized honeycomb, orange and steely leading to a layered palate of green apple, sizzling citrus and white peach along with hints of wild honey, earth, subtle clove, melon and tropical notes. This fine Pinot Blanc shines and opens to reveal depth and texture, but always stays taught, there is no soft/flabbiness to be seen, it is a very controlled effort. Without question this wine has a good life ahead of it, but I certainly think it is fantastic now, it has style and substance that makes for a wonderful experience, this dry, but generous white will provide much pleasure with a wide range of cuisines from picnic fare to pan-asian exotic menus, from ham to chow mien, I imagine myself drinking it with speck, that delectable applewood smoked cured prosciutto, or flammkuchen that savory Alsatian pizza or tart flambée in French. This wine is the real deal, drink now through 2022, bravo to Marc Tempe and to the nature and terroir of Zellenberg!
($28 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
