Franz Keller, Schwarzer Adler, Pinot Blanc

I love a good pinot blanc, yet surprisingly I discovered upon starting to write this review that this is the first still pinot blanc I’ve reviewed on the site. I’ve done some reviews of sparkling wines, but no still wines.

I suppose that could be because I don’t come across a whole lot of pinot blanc and when I do it’s often outside the price range target of this site. Even this one is at the upper limits.

A good pinot blanc is crisp, bright, dry and minerally. Good pinot blanc is actually a great wine for aging too, which is something many folks might not realize. I’ve had some amazing 10, 20 even 30 year old pinot blanc.

This one from Franz Keller is no exception. This is actually a 2011, which is a vintage you’re not likely to find on store shelves at this point — unless you’re lucky. But you could buy the most recent vintage and let it age in your cellar for a few years and you would likely get similar results. And that’s not to say this wine can’t be consumed young, it can.

Baden, in southwest Germany, is where this wine was produced. More specifically, from vineyards in Kaiserstuhl. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks and spent extended time on the lees, which brings rich flavors and texture to the wine.

Elegance is the first thing that comes to mind upon smelling this wine. Delicate orange blossom, almond, wet stone, pear and mandarin orange aromas give the wine a beautiful nose. The palate has a lush creaminess to the mouthfeel and delivers flavors such as elderberry, lemon, almond and pear. There’s a touch of saltiness on the finish, which lingers extensively. The acidity brings just the right amount of brightness to the wine. This is a delicious wine.

Wine: Franz Keller, Schwarzer Adler, Pinot Blanc
Varieties: Pinot blanc
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 92
Price: $25.00
Disclosure: This wine was provided as a media sample.