Domaine Ostertag
Vieilles Vignes Sylvaner
See my note from 37 weeks ago for the fascinating back story on this wine and the Sylvaner grape in general which has had some bad press in the past for being dilute. This was anything but dilute. All the descriptors in my October 2022 tasting note still apply. Also stewed apricot notes with mouldy orange. Medium to full bodied on the palate. Unique and delicious. This wine does not need oak maturation (and doesn’t get it), just like Semillon and Riesling don’t need it, although it is optional with Semillon.
See my note from 37 weeks ago for the fascinating back story on this wine and the Sylvaner grape in general which has had some bad press in the past for being dilute. This was anything but dilute. All the descriptors in my October 2022 tasting note still apply. Also stewed apricot notes with mouldy orange. Medium to full bodied on the palate. Unique and delicious. This wine does not need oak maturation (and doesn’t get it), just like Semillon and Riesling don’t need it, although it is optional with Semillon.
Jun 24th, 2023An initial note of honeycomb which blew off. Not a variety I’ve had much but I must say this is intriguing with an interesting story. Originally from Transylvania, hence the name. Sylvaner had been originally planted as up to a third of the plantings in Alsace but now only 6%. declining in favour of Pinot Noir and Riesling. Ostertag’s Sylvaner vines have an average age of 55 years and have been farmed with biodynamic methods since 1998. The age of the vine brings a complex mineral wine with great depth of flavour which had the reputation of being quite dilute. Fermented naturally in Stainless steel and kept on lees for one year. Andre Ostertag, the owner, says Sylvaner is a cornerstone of Alsatian food and wine culture. I found the wine to be a hypothetical cross between Riesling, Chardonnay and Semillon. I loved it.
An initial note of honeycomb which blew off. Not a variety I’ve had much but I must say this is intriguing with an interesting story. Originally from Transylvania, hence the name. Sylvaner had been originally planted as up to a third of the plantings in Alsace but now only 6%. declining in favour of Pinot Noir and Riesling. Ostertag’s Sylvaner vines have an average age of 55 years and have been farmed with biodynamic methods since 1998. The age of the vine brings a complex mineral wine with great depth of flavour which had the reputation of being quite dilute. Fermented naturally in Stainless steel and kept on lees for one year. Andre Ostertag, the owner, says Sylvaner is a cornerstone of Alsatian food and wine culture. I found the wine to be a hypothetical cross between Riesling, Chardonnay and Semillon. I loved it.
Oct 1st, 2022
