WTN: Is this the BEST Pinot Blanc on Earth?

I think so! I have had many vintages of the Chalone Pinot Blanc and the 2006 confirms what I have always thought. Very spicey pear fruit with prickly acidity ,a med. straw color and viscous legs on the glass to boot, this is one uber-fine Pinot Blanc. I have had a 10 year old Albert Mann Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois that is in contention but this 2006 has a LOT of life left and I may put a few aside for a few years to see if extended aging is possible. Are there any contenders out there and if so I'd really like to try them? My criteria is BIG as in, my favorite non- Grand Cru white Burgundy is Newton (unfiltered Chardonnay). As an aside, does anyone make a really good/great Pinot Blanc sparkler?

Jim, the best Pinot Blanc I've ever had came from Alto Adige, so probably pretty different. I remember having a Chalone back in about 1978 or '79, and liking it then, but not so sure how I'd feel about it now. My #1 consideration these days is freshness. I find it irresistible.

Some of Chalone's Pinot Blancs were in fact Melon, apparently. The older Reserve 'Pinot Blancs' were outstanding wines whatever the variety.

[David M. Bueker]

IMO the best Pinot Blanc on Earth comes from Ludwig Hiedler in Austria. His Pinot Blanc 'Maximum" is regularly outstanding, and is not all that pricey (I bought the '08 for $21) for a world class wine. It also ages amazingly well.

Boxler makes outstanding Pinot Blanc in Alsace, though that is blended with Auxerrois.

Chalone PB is not what it used to be IMO.

Domaine Charles Schleret Pinot Blanc Herrenweg de Turckheim. This is the guy who can even make Sylvaner sing.

Jim - Thanks for the note. I have never had a Chalone Pinot Blanc before. My favorite PBs have been from Heidi Schröck and Weinbach, with Müller-Catoir not far behind. Haven't had Hiedler (I've seen it closer to $40 in my area) or Boxler's PB yet.

As far as sparklers - Cedric Bouchard makes a 100% Pinot Blanc Champagne named La Boleree, although I have never had it.

With the caveat that I haven't had an awful lot of other Pinots Blanc, I will say that Konzelmann in Niagara makes a really tasty one. It's one of my favourite white wines from the Niagara Peninsula. The variety certainly does display the pear flavours and has a pleasing crispness and balance, even in less-than-stellar years.

As an aside, does anyone make a really good/great Pinot Blanc sparkler?

Lucien-Albrecht's Cremant d'Alsace is typically from 100% Pinot Blanc, and very note-worthy. It has consistently placed at or close to the top in our bind "Champagne" tastings when it is entered. They also make a nice cremant rose' (I think from 100% Pinot Noir).

Thanks Richard for the note on Albrecht's Cremant. I have had a lot of his Rose Sparkler which is very nice for the price but will have to look for the cremant.

Domaine Charles Schleret Pinot Blanc Herrenweg de Turckheim. This is the guy who can even make Sylvaner sing.

I've always enjoyed Schleret's wines, especially his Muscats (hard to find a shop selling good Alsace Muscat in the US). But I haven't seen his wines lately, and heard the M. Schleret was an older man with no heirs to take over when he retires. Does anyone know what is going on there? A bit of googling did not yield much...mostly references to wines 2006 or older.

Wow. Good suggestions for PB. Be tough to choose among the Alsace and the Alto Adige and Austria. So I won't. I'll enjoy all three.

[David M. Bueker]

And the St. Innocent Pinot Blanc is no slouch either, so props to Oregon.

And the St. Innocent Pinot Blanc is no slouch either, so props to Oregon.

You should try Helioterra PB from Oregon also, David. Good stuff, and reminiscent of an Alto Adige stylistically.

Pinot Blanc is viewed as a serious, sometimes ageworthy white in the Alto Adige, often grown in fairly high-altitude vineyards. I love the wines, from the simpler everyday versions to the more serious.

As an aside, does anyone make a really good/great Pinot Blanc sparkler?

Lucien-Albrecht's Cremant d'Alsace is typically from 100% Pinot Blanc, and very note-worthy. It has consistently placed at or close to the top in our bind "Champagne" tastings when it is entered. They also make a nice cremant rose' (I think from 100% Pinot Noir).

Hi Richard - Thanks for the info on the "regular" Albrecht Cemant d' Alsace. Like Jim, I've been a fan of Albrecht's rose in the past, so I'll have to try his other sparkler sometime.

David - Agree about the St. Innocent as well.

[Jenise]

And the St. Innocent Pinot Blanc is no slouch either, so props to Oregon.

I've had some enjoyable PB's from St. Innocent, but nothing that holds a candle to some of the pinot blancs I've had from BC's Okanagan Valley.

Thanks all for some excellent leads on further Pinot Blanc exploits. Jenise, can you drop some names of your favorite B.C. P.B. I may actually see some at MoCool this August! Also those mentioning the Northern Italian versions of Pinot Blanc, any favorites there to name?