If you note that Kientzler wines are frequently featured in our newsletter, that’s because Thierry Kientzler has a version of the Midas touch, he can’t touch a vine without producing another delicious wine from the family vineyards in Ribeauvillé in the heart of Alsace. Kientzler wines have always been among the freshest and sharpest cut wines of the village, and this is true even when they work with less valuable varieties like Pinot Blanc, generally considered a ‘bulk’ grape in Alsace. The 2022 vintage opens with crystal clear focus. Notes of pear butter, Rainier cherry, flint, acacia blossom and apple burst out of the glass. The palate is clean cut and buzzing with acidity, notes of flint, green apple, and garden blossoms. An edge of granite arrives on the finish, with cherry blossoms and oranges in tow. For a wine so full of energy, the Kientzler Pinot Blanc has full body enough for roast chicken, risotto, or a rich, creamy seafood stew.