2023 Weinbach - Pinot Gris Clos des Capucins (750ml)

The Clos des Capucins is Domaine Weinbach's home vineyard and namesake, a walled plot built in 1612 by Capuchin monks at the foot of the majestic Schlossberg hill. The estate's 28.5 hectares of vines represent Alsace's principal grape varieties, and the domaine has been led since 2016 by Catherine Faller alongside her sons Eddy and Théo.

This Pinot Gris comes from the Clos itself, a terroir that ripens earlier than the surrounding sites. The plot's flat structure of sandy, silty gravel topped with pebbles allows the soil to warm quickly, encouraging early, even ripening, while the surrounding hills shield the vines from wind and create a microclimate that favors aromatic purity. The domaine has farmed the property biodynamically since 2005.

The 2023 vintage shows subtle notes of pear, apple, butter, and smoke. It's produced in a tight, juicy style this year, with gentle stone fruit and a lightly honeyed finish, coming across as quite acid-driven for an entry-level Pinot Gris and finishing bone dry with just a hint of caress. Light on its feet yet fleshy, the wine carries through to a fresh, persistent finish.

This is a wonderful match for mushroom risotto, grilled tuna or salmon, or duck with peaches, and works equally well with a wide range of poultry dishes.