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ALSACE<br />
STYLE<br />
JOCELYNE STENTZ AND HER SON MARC<br />
Crémants account for a quarter of our production”,<br />
explains Marc Stentz. “They are all different and<br />
display hallmark flavours and typicity that match<br />
consumer preferences”. The Crémant Brut Prestige<br />
is blended from 60% Pinot blanc, 25% Chardonnay<br />
and 15% Riesling. It is matured on the lees for<br />
18 months before being riddled then disgorged. The<br />
range includes the single varietal Pinot noir Crémant<br />
Brut Prestige rosé, the Crémant Chardonnay and the<br />
Cuvée Équinoxe. The Équinoxe label is harvested on<br />
the day of the autumnal equinox. It is made from<br />
50% Pinot blanc, which epitomises daytime, and 50%<br />
Pinot noir, which represents night time. “This fusion<br />
of day and night reveals two opposing forces which<br />
come together in a harmonious blend”, adds Stentz.<br />
“The wine offers an interplay between the sunlight,<br />
which imbues it with power, and the darkness of the<br />
winery which lends it its freshness and finesse. It is<br />
important to distinguish between Crémant d’Alsace<br />
and Champagne. They don’t necessarily come from<br />
the same types of soils, grape varieties or blends. We<br />
need to hold our heads high when it comes to our<br />
prestigious neighbours”.<br />
KUEHN ALSACE WINES:<br />
CONTINUITY OF STYLE<br />
WORK IN THE WINERY AT DOMAINE AIMÉ STENTZ<br />
Set in the heart of Alsace, Ammerschwihr unfurls<br />
its sun-blessed hills and uniquely shaped vineyard<br />
sites. Its varied soils are formed of granite, limestone<br />
and schist with a marly-limestone subsoil<br />
which promote outstanding wines, enhanced<br />
by winemaking rules that foster excellence and<br />
authenticity. The Kuehn trading company produces<br />
250,000 bottles a year of complex, quality sparkling<br />
wines. “We use 20% reserve wines to ensure continuity<br />
in the house style and erase vintage variation”,<br />
explains Timothée Boltz, the company’s managing<br />
director. “For the Crémant 1675, we prefer to extend<br />
the maturation period on the lees to 7 years. The<br />
aim is to make the wines more palate-friendly by<br />
softening acidities and offering complex, delicate<br />
wines where enjoyment is the primary focus”. The<br />
company has developed a range that resonates with<br />
consumer preferences, with a variety of sweetness<br />
30 SPRING 2024 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE
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