2024 Leon Boesch - Pinot Blanc La Cabane (750ml)
Domaine Léon Boesch has been making wine in Alsace since 1640, with eleven generations of the Boesch family working the slopes of the Vallée Noble. The estate is based in the village of Westhalten, inside the Ballons des Vosges nature park, and today Matthieu Boesch and his wife Marie run it, having taken over from his father Gérard. The family has farmed organically since 2000 and now holds Demeter biodynamic certification. In 2010 they built an underground bioclimatic cellar, and their holdings include parcels in the Grand Cru Zinnkoepflé.
La Cabane takes its name from the small stone huts built among the vines to shelter workers from sudden storms. Despite the Pinot Blanc label, the wine is mostly Pinot Auxerrois, roughly 70 percent, with about 30 percent Pinot Blanc. This blend is permitted under Alsace rules. The vines grow on biodynamically farmed sandstone and clay soils. The domaine ferments with native yeasts and ages its whites on the lees in large, old oak foudres, which add texture without any noticeable wood flavor.
This Alsace Pinot Blanc opens with pear, crisp melon, candied lemon, and white flowers, along with hints of ginger and bergamot. The palate is lively and fresh but has real weight, with apple, lemon blossom, and a stony mineral finish. It goes well with shellfish, white fish, roast chicken, mildly spiced Asian dishes, or goat cheese.