The Pinot Blanc Les Jardins results is a blend of six small gardens of vines, farmed biodynamically, and located in the town of Epfig with a small part coming from the Clos Mathis parcel in Ribeauvillé. Half the plots are true Pinot Blanc, the other half is Auxerrois which comes, for the most part, from the slopes of lieu-dit Fronholz. They are based on three "natures" of soil: clay-silt, marl-sandstone, and a touch of granite.
The Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois blend is a classic combination in Alsace, the former bringing the structure and the latter the flesh. However the result is rarely interesting given how poor in aromatics and structure these two grapes can be when they are not farmed with care. Ostertag's vision for the Pinot Blanc is to look for flesh to balance its naturally tight and tense character, by fermenting and ageing it in Burgundy style, as the family does for the Pinot Gris. This is a radically untraditional approach in Alsace, but it is how Pinot Blanc was made in Burgundy for centuries. Indeed, since 1988, the Pinot Blanc at Domaine Ostertag is entirely fermented and aged in 228-litre oak barriques. The goal is to stretch the wine both in width and length, nourish it with the lees to give it structure and salinity, and develop greater aromatic complexity. The 2017 vintage was handpicked on 6th September. It was gently pressed with the whole bunches, in a pneumatic press, for about nine hours. It was fermented entirely in used oak barriques with natural yeasts, and went through malolactic conversion. It was kept in the same barrels for 11 months, and bottled at the end of August 2018 with a balance of 12.5% alcohol and 1g/L of residual sugar.
The result is an uncommonly full-bodied and structured Pinot Blanc, yet bone-dry and mouthwatering. It exudes fresh and fruity aromas of yellow peaches and nectarine. A hint of hazelnut comes out with air. The mouthfeel is dense yet tense thanks to the zesty minerality.