Why it matters
The producer
The estate's history in Alsace reaches back to the 17th century. It farms 25 hectares, with 90 percent of its holdings under organic methods. Domaine Paul Blanck works across grape named wines and bottles tied to Grand Cru parcels. Frédéric and Philippe Blanck manage the domaine today.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Alsace gives the domaine two label formats. A varietal wine foregrounds the grape, while a Grand Cru name identifies a classified vineyard site. The five Grand Cru parcels are Schlossberg, Furstentum, Mambourg, Sommerberg and Wineck-Schlossberg. These names move the label from a grape reference to a specific vineyard, while the varietal bottles keep Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir in plain view.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range includes white varietal wines and a red Pinot Noir. Paul Blanck Pinot Noir ferments with natural yeast for 7 to 10 days, then remains in stainless steel until spring bottling. Pinot Blanc Classique is fresh and well balanced, with apple, lemon and ginger on the nose, followed by citrus, tropical fruit and mineral notes on the palate. Rieslings are bright, dry and lemony, with lively mineral and pithy qualities. Gewürztraminer is wonderfully aromatic, with melon, lychee, herb and grape notes.