I’ve struggled to post a review over the past few weeks with all the goings on for the imminent move to the US, but things are quieter this weekend so here we go. My first priority when we move in December is to find a decent wine merchant that runs a good European line so I can carry on joining in with #newwinethisweek.

So, Pinot Blanc proved to be a difficult find this week. I’ve been relying on the supermarket choices a bit too much recently so thought I’d try the independents. Lea & Sandeman’s didn’t stock one but I had more luck in The Good Wine Shop, Chiswick. I bought their only version, a 2012 Terre D’Etoiles by Domaine Mittnacht for £13.99.

For some reason, Pinot Blanc from Alsace is seen as the poorer cousin to Riesling and Gewürztraminer, who both take most of the plaudits from this region. Also, rather oddly, is the fact that the AOC laws in Alsace don’t specify the usual amount of 75% needed for it to be labelled as a single variety. So bizarrely enough, there is only 40% Pinot Blanc in this wine, with the rest made up of Pinot Auxerrois??!! In fact, it’s allowable for an Alsace Pinot Blanc to be made up of 100% Pinot Auxerrois!

There was no great surprise that this wine shows the green fruits and floral characters typical of the region, but a lot less of the aromatics you’d find with Riesling or Gewürz. The nose is full of pears and apples and there’s a secondary whiff of something dairy, perhaps butter or cream. On the palate it’s fresh and light, but the body is surprisingly textured and has the gloopiness to suggest a very well made wine. The dairy comes through much more now, showing a really creamy depth. Everything works in unctuous harmony; the acid, the mouth-feel, the fruit and floral flavours. Overall, this is a very interesting and well-structured wine.

I reckon a nice goat’s cheese would work really well with this but I only had some Cashel blue to hand, and it kind of did ok, the creaminess of the Irish cheese helping out.

A very solid 8/10