In the glass
Aroma: lemon peel, white peach, smoke, wet flint
Palate: green apple, candied lemon, saline, smoke
Andre Ostertag's Riesling from volcanic-sandstone Muenchberg Grand Cru above Nothalten. Sharp, smoky, structured; a Lower Vosges Riesling worth seeking out.
What it pairs with
-
Sole meuniere
Brown-butter fish for the wine's smoky stone. -
Smoked trout
Smoky volcanic Riesling for smoked freshwater fish. -
Aged Comte
Crystalline cheese against the wine's mineral lift.
How to serve Ostertag Muenchberg Riesling
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a smaller all-purpose white glass — the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Sole meuniere, Smoked trout, Aged Comte. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Muenchberg is a Lower Vosges Grand Cru on volcanic-sandstone soils above Nothalten. Andre Ostertag has bottled it as a single-cru cuvee since 1990. Demeter biodynamic since 1998.
- 1990 — First Ostertag Muenchberg Riesling Grand Cru bottling
- 1998 — Domaine certified Demeter biodynamic
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Ostertag
- Grapes
- Riesling (100%)
- Classification
- Alsace Grand Cru Muenchberg
- Oak
- Large old foudre; long lees ageing
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 70 to 110 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1990
Frequently asked about Ostertag Muenchberg Riesling
What does Ostertag Muenchberg Riesling taste like?
On the nose, lemon peel, white peach, smoke, wet flint. On the palate, green apple, candied lemon, saline, smoke. Structurally medium-bodied, racy acidity with a long finish. Andre Ostertag's Riesling from volcanic-sandstone Muenchberg Grand Cru above Nothalten. Sharp, smoky, structured; a Lower Vosges Riesling worth seeking out.
When should I drink Ostertag Muenchberg Riesling?
Drink 5-25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Ostertag Muenchberg Riesling?
Sole meuniere is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Smoked trout and Aged Comte. Brown-butter fish for the wine's smoky stone.
What grapes are in Ostertag Muenchberg Riesling?
The blend is Riesling (100%). The wine is classified as Alsace Grand Cru Muenchberg.