{"product_id":"sophie-schaal-pinot-noir-2024","title":"Sophie Schaal Pinot Noir 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Land\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSophie Schaal is based in Hunawihr, one of the pretty hilltop villages between Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr in the heart of Alsace. This is limestone and clay country in the foothills of the Vosges, whose rain shadow makes Alsace one of the driest, sunniest corners of France. Pinot Noir is the only red grape permitted in AOC Alsace, and on these cool, calcareous soils it takes on a Burgundian cast: red and dark fruit with acidity and lift rather than heat. The combination of limestone and a long, dry ripening season is exactly what gives serious Alsace Pinot Noir its structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e100% Pinot Noir, farmed organically and made in a clean, precise style with little to no new oak. It shows darker fruit than you usually expect from a Pinot at this price: black cherry and plum alongside brighter raspberry, a touch of gentle spice, and a fresh, unforced finish. Light to medium in body, with the clarity you would expect from a Burgundy-trained oenologist. This is a lot of wine for the money, the sort of everyday Pinot Noir that overdelivers. The 2024 vintage was cool and wet across Alsace, which pushed reds toward a fresher, lighter frame with vivid acidity, and this wine wears that style well.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe People\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSophie Schaal was born in Burgundy and earned her national oenology diploma in Dijon, a background that shows in the precision of her wines. A 2013 trip to South Africa changed everything: it broadened her sense of terroir and it is where she met Julien Schaal, an Alsatian winemaker working in the Cape. Married now, the couple splits time between Alsace and South Africa. Sophie farms organically in Alsace, a decision she describes as coming naturally as a producer and a mother focused on long-term vineyard health. Her range covers Riesling, Pinot Gris, and this Pinot Noir.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn easy, versatile red. Roast chicken with thyme, duck breast with a cherry pan sauce, a mushroom and gruyère tart, or a board of charcuterie and soft cheeses. It also handles grilled salmon and tuna, especially with a light chill on a warm evening. Fresh acidity and modest tannin make it a friendly partner across a wide range of dishes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Old World","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50572321063135,"sku":null,"price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P7160694.jpg?v=1784262521","url":"https:\/\/denverwinemerchant.com\/products\/sophie-schaal-pinot-noir-2024","provider":"Denver Wine Merchant","version":"1.0","type":"link"}