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Domaine Ostertag Sylvaner
Domaine Ostertag Sylvaner, along with Jacques et Francois Carillon Mercurey were the wines out of the hat last night with the Ostertag number whipping the buttski off the Burg. The whites of Alsace are a bit of a pet interest for me at the moment as I’m finding incredible quality and freshness, there are many really well made wines for under £20, sometimes under £10. This wine only furthered my growing addiction.I’ve never had a brush with the Ostertag Sylvaner before but knowing some of their range, especially the outstanding Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Tokay Pinot Gris grand cru wines I expected this to be top notch and at £11 this is pretty good value.
These wines are especially interesting as they are made bio dynamically, the producer, Andre Ostertag, is a radical in the area and chooses to give some of his wines the barrique treatment. This Sylvaner is “Vieilles Vignes” (old vines) and touted as possibly the best example of this Austrian grape grown in Alsace.
“This isn’t Italian wine Missy“, yes yes I know, but, the village in which the vineyards for the Sylvaner are situated is in Epfig which was built by one Julius Ceasar so if you think about it, these wines are a little bit Italian. Tenuous? Never! As for the other wine, the Mercurey appellation is slap bang in the middle of Burgundy and I’m sure a Roman legion or two must have marched through those fields and dropped the odd pot or coin hence bestowing a small piece of Italy deep into the terroir. *cough*
I don’t need an excuse!
Jacques et Francois Carillon Mercurey 2004 – PASS – €20
Light brick red with orange hues. Aromatically too generous, like lighting a scented strawberry candle this wine jumped out of the glass, overwhelming strawberries, a sweet nose with a hint of earth and mushroom. On the palate, fruit forward, more strawberries and a few raspberries flowing through on this light-mid bodied wine, high acidity, soft tannins but an unappealing and clipped finish. It’s too simple and no where close to value. 84 Points
Domaine Ostertag Les Vieilles Vignes de Sylvaner 2007 – BUY – €12
Light golden yellow going clear to the rim. Once again, really aromatic on the nose. Notes of pineapple, apples, cream and stones with the palate showing minerality. Mid bodied and refreshing, good acidity, well balanced and enjoyable. The wine is well put together and has a profile from nose to finish that is consistent but uninspiring. The mid-palate is really fruity and concentrated but the watery disappearing finish puts pay to the 90. 89 Points
Interestingly the nose the next morning on this wine is minerals all the way, maybe a wine for mr 2daysperbottle.
All these wines can be bought from BBR.com
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Can you claim that you are Italian? Ever had a Mercurey or a Sylvaner wine?
No where close to value?It’s Burgundy 😉
Sylvaner is under represented here in Australia. When i can find any it’s something late harvest from here so nothing like your Alsatian wine.My grandmother is Italian from La Spezia, it’s a beautiful town on the coast. I have to make my way over there and try some of the local wines of Campania. Taurtasi?
Never had a value Mercurey. If you find one let us in on the secret, brett.
I thought sylvaner usually made dull german wines, sometimes blended with riesling to make it more interesting. I’ve never had an Alsace sylvaner. But alsace riesling is fantastic stuff.
I really enjoy Ostertag’s wines. Now I need to seek out the Sylvaner.
Hmmm.. I’m not too familiar with Domaine Ostertag but will definitely try it out!