Kuentz-Bas Riesling Alsace 2024

Profile & Story

Maison Kuentz-Bas was established by the Kuentz family in 1795 in Husseren-les-Chateaux, Alsace, and the domaine as known today was formed in 1895 when the Kuentz and Bas families married. In 2004 the family sold the estate to vigneron Jean-Baptiste Adam, the 14th generation of a winemaking family dating to 1614; winemaking today is overseen by Olivier Raffin. Kuentz-Bas has been certified organic since 2007 and biodynamic (Demeter) since 2008, with hand-harvested grapes, minimal-intervention cellar practices, and no added yeasts or fining agents. This Riesling comes from the estate's entry-level Tradition range: 100% Riesling from vines 25-45 years old (about 4 hectares) on loess, silt, and limestone soils, sourced from Husseren-les-Chateaux and Eguisheim between 300-400m altitude. Slow fermentation (2-6 months) takes place in oak foudres over 100 years old, followed by maturation on fine lees before filtration and bottling. Alcohol 12.5%. (Source: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, the wine's official US importer, and kuentz-bas.fr.)