Camille Braun Cuvée Marguerite-Anne Pinot Blanc 2014

Thanks to the natural, biodynamic viticultural practices at the estate, the 2014 Camille Braun Cuvée Marguerite-Anne Pinot Blanc offers a delightfully fruity, crisp, delicate glass of Pinot Blanc with superb definition. Light and ethereal in bouquet, one of Pinot Blanc’s charms, and supple and supremely clean on the palate, Camille Braun’s 2014 Pinot Blanc stands out for its pinpoint precision and clean energizing flavors. Hints of orchard fruits, dried honey and citrus, the latter born of Pinot Blanc’s natural acidity, make this a clear standout. Alsace Pinot Blanc is never a heavyweight, nor is it a wine that needs barrel ageing to define or improve it, and this is certainly true in the case of Camille Braun’s 2014 Pinot Blanc. Enjoy this wonderful, natural tasting wine moderately chilled (40° F) now and over the next several years.

The 2014 Camille Braun Cuvée Marguerite-Anne Pinot Blanc is the perfect wine to drink any time. Without added sulfite, it glides across the tongue and slips easily down the thirsty throat, which makes it the ideal aperitif and then some. Consider soft creamy cheeses, freshly picked apples and pears, crudités, and pâtés as ideal accompaniments. Sea scallops seared in butter and white wine provide equally satisfying companions to Camille Braun’s illustrious Pinot Blanc. Salads, white meats and ham pair nicely with Pinot Blanc as well. Bon appétit!

The Braun family traces its presence as farmers and wine growers in Alsace back to 1583. Since then, generations of wine growers have followed one another. With the purchase of a 17th century farmhouse in Orschwihr in 1902, the Brauns established their own family vineyards and domaine.

Orschwihr, located in southern Alsace along the renowned Alsace Route des Vins, has enjoyed fame since the Middle Ages for the high quality of its wines. In 1960, Camille Braun took over the family farm and began to focus exclusively on wine production and the bottling and sale of his own wines. Beginning with just 2.5 hectares, the domaine has grown to 15 hectares (44 acres) of vineyards in and around Orschwihr and Uffholtz. Camille’s son Christophe took over the family business in 1987 and today runs the domaine with his charming wife, Chantal. The domaine consists of some 30 parcels, including the Grand Cru site Pfingstberg, documented since 1299, and single sites Bollenberg, Lippelsberg, Effenberg and Meissenberg. The farming at Camille Braun has been certified organic for the past 15 years and has been certified biodynamic since 2005. All the farming methods employed at the estate respect the environment and the character of the natural terroir.

Production at Camille Braun is tiny, just over 8,000 cases, due to natural farming methods and strict attention to quality. The result has been numerous awards, including the Prize for Excellence at the Concours National, awarded for the consistent quality of all the estate’s wines, and a Gold Medal at the Concours National des Crémants for their Crémant Brut (a traditional Champagne Method sparkling wine). In addition to outstanding Crémant, the Brauns fashion one of Alsace’s finest Pinot Blancs, a blend of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois. Auxerrois is a traditional but distinct Alsace grape that is often blended with Pinot Blanc in both still and sparkling wines that are legally entitled to be called Pinot Blanc. Small amounts of Sylvaner and other Alsace varietals are produced, including tiny lots of Grand Cru offerings – all worth seeking out.