Description / Reviews
"The Sylvaner Vieilles Vignes is the totem wine of Domaine Ostertag, and we take great pleasure in working with this variety, which is so demanding in the vineyard and cellar. t’s a misunderstood grape, unfairly subjected to decades of mass production, when in truth, it has all the makings of a truly great white wine—a humble wine that is becoming great. While it can age well for several years, it delivers the greatest pleasure in the carefree freshness of its early years." - Arthur Ostertag, Winemaker
"The old Sylvaner vines at Domaine Ostertag are on average 55 years old, and have been cultivated biodynamically since 1998, like the rest of the estate. The vines range from 30 to 80 years old, with deep root systems that impart a surprising mineral structure to this variety, as well as great depth of flavour. They come from a mix of plateau and hillside plots, about half of which lie in named lieux-dits, mainly in the village of Epfig, on clay-sandstone soils, with touches of limestone, marl, and granite.
In 2023, the handpicked bunches were gently pressed for nine hours in a pneumatic press. Fermentation occurred slowly with native yeasts, and the wine aged for a year on its lees, in stainless steel tanks. It was bottled on 10th September, 2024 with a balance of 12.5% alcohol and 0.89g/L of natural residual sugar." - Cellarhand, Importer
"The 2023 Sylvaner Vieilles Vignes hails from vines from 55 to 85 years old grown on sandstone, clay, loess and marl. It was made in stainless steel only and went through full malolactic fermentation. The nose is full of baked apple pie aromas. The palate is understated and concentrated but without any heaviness. This is a quintessential Sylvaner of supreme balance and ease. So smooth and understated. This is wonderful. (Bone-dry)." - 93 Points, Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous
"A little nutty sherry-like tang, tangerine, almond paste, mint, apple and lime. It’s saline, fleshy and nutty, quite some thickness to glossy texture, but also has a juicy green mango tango, it’s chalky and flinty, and pulls savoury yet fruit sweet on a finish of good length. Peanuts, green olive in brine also a bit of a thing here. It’s a wine of individual character and charisma that offers plenty of drinking appeal. Complex and so yum." - 94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
