ABOUT: Alsace is a grand region of glorious wine and the only French wine region that prints the grape variety right there on the label. We love the region for its transparency and the wines are so good that it's a pretty easy affair. Marcel Deiss is a leading biodynamic practitioner in the region making a variety of wines from a myriad of vineyards, though one thing he is a true master of are wines designated Vendange Tardive or Selection de Grains Nobles. These are wines made from the very ripest grapes and have some rigorous parameters to work within. First, the producer has to get permission from the INAO at least 8 days before harvest to even attempt to make the wine. Second, hand harvesting is mandatory, which may not happen all at once, but rather a series of tries throughout the vineyard. The minimum natural residual sugar for a Pinot Gris SGN is 306 g/l!! Before this wine can even grace the lips of the consumer it has to pass a panel tasting after 6 months from the barrel, then from the bottle after 18 months. An incredible amount of work for an incredible wine. TASTE: Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN) is a term used in Alsace for wines which have reached the highest sugar levels and always contain a proportion of grapes affected by botrytis. Fitting squarely into the dessert wine category, this Pinot Gris is rich, viscous and harmonious, with a landslide of aromas and flavors. Think fig, date, almond, orange, honey but with a touch of acidity and bitterness that keeps things lifted and wallowing in a kiddie pool of sugar. This is a scarce bottle, get it while you can. PAIR: Pecan pie, a floating island, Cabrales cheese, Stilton, coconut icebox cake, lime custards with lychee, and roasted walnuts and hazelnuts.
