Domaine Mélanie Pfister - Pinot Gris Furd 2023

After an outstanding academic career (earning a degree in agricultural engineering and a diploma in oenology in Bordeaux), Mélanie returned to the estate in 2008. Since then, she has continually pushed the boundaries of quality even further. Several wines have been added to the lineup, including highly successful Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer wines made using maceration since 2018. As a result of global warming, there are also excellent Pinot Noirs from the Hüt and Rahn vineyards. Not to mention Crémants aged for an extended period on racks, an excellent Riesling from the Engelberg Grand Cru, and, since 2014, a model example of barrel-aged Pinot Gris from the Silberberg vineyard. A consistent journey toward consistency and excellence that we are rewarding this year with an additional star.

As a Pinot Gris, Furd is fresh and mineral, quite tight and firm

Mélanie, who took over the estate in 2008 after studying agricultural engineering and oenology, represents the eighth generation of the Pfister family. Located a few kilometers from Strasbourg, this estate offers a high-quality range of wines characterized by great purity, and provides an opportunity to discover the Engelberg, a grand cru whose name means “the hillside of the angels.” This dynamic young woman is also the founder of Les Divines d’Alsace, a regional association bringing together women in the wine industry. Certified organic in 2021, the estate continues to demonstrate consistency and a steady rise in the quality of its wines, and now practices biodynamic viticulture.

The 2023 Furd Pinot Gris comes from a terroir with heavy soils known as Furdenheimer Tal. It was aged primarily in stainless steel tanks and, to a small extent, in oval stoneware vats. Notes of ripe pear and mirabelle plum are accompanied by a lovely earthy touch. The palate is smooth and juicy, with a lively freshness that frames and supports its creaminess. A hint of lemon rounds out the body, but this wine is very dry, with a lively freshness that sets it apart from others. (Very dry)

Here is a dry, aromatic, and elegant Pinot Gris with medium body that will literally take your breath away. It offers a near-perfect balance between rich texture and wonderful delicacy. Enticing aromas of melon, ripe peach, and hibiscus. An extremely long and graceful finish. Made from organically grown grapes certified by Fair’n Green. Enjoy now or celller.