Wine of the week: my choice for the desert island
2009 Pinot Gris, Cuvée Ste Catherine, Domaine Weinbach, Alsace, France (£31.17, Justerini & Brooks, 020-7484 6400, www.justerinis.com).
Weinbach is one of my ‘desert island’ producers. Officially established by Capuchin monks in 1612, nowadays, it is run by the powerful triumvirate of Colette, Catherine and Laurence Faller, and they make some of the most beautiful gewürztraminers, rieslings and pinot gris in existence.
Their portfolio of wines is staggeringly serious – from lush, dry enigmatic creations to unimaginably exotic, mesmerising sweet wines. I rarely score below 18 out of 20 in my notes when I taste these wines and this makes Weinbach on a par with Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Château Margaux and Château d’Yquem.
The 2009/10 vintage release, which J&B is offering right now, is vital to your cellar’s well-being. Every wine is a knockout, especially the ‘10 Riesling Schlossberg Cuvée Ste. Catherine, ‘10 Gewurz Furstentum, ‘09 Pinot Gris Altenbourg Cuvée d’Or Quintessence (which I gave a perfect 20/20!) and the ’09 Riesling Altenbourg Vendanges Tardive.
My tip this week is the delectable and eminently affordable pinot gris, named after Cathy herself, and it is so heavenly you will find yourself drifting away on a cloud of sheer joy with every sip.
• Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (www.matthewjukes.com).