Who makes it
Family winemaking in Husseren-les-Châteaux is recorded in archives from 1795. Kuentz-Bas is an Alsace domaine whose named La 4ème Tour wines include Riesling 2024 and Gewürztraminer 2021.
La 4ème Tour wines use spontaneous fermentation and mature on lees for 10 to 12 months. Other selections are vinified either in hundred-year-old oak casks, where the wood allows subtle micro-oxidation, or in stainless steel, which preserves fruit aromas.
Where it grows
The Trois Châteaux vines sit around Husseren-les-Châteaux at 400 meters. La 4ème Tour parcels border Grand Cru vineyards and contain loess rich in fine yellow silts, sand and limestone.
The current cellar is in Ammerschwihr, next to the separate Domaine Jean-Baptiste Adam vault. Kuentz-Bas therefore works between vineyard sites around Husseren-les-Châteaux and a cellar in Ammerschwihr.
How it is made
The cellar
Depending on the selection, Kuentz-Bas vinifies wines in hundred-year-old oak casks or in stainless steel. The oak allows subtle micro-oxidation, while stainless steel preserves fruit aromas.
La 4ème Tour wines ferment spontaneously and mature on lees for 10 to 12 months. Lees are spent yeast cells, and contact with them can add texture and savoury notes as the wine matures.
What they make
The named lines include Trois Châteaux and La 4ème Tour. The latter is represented by La 4ème Tour Riesling 2024 and La 4ème Tour Gewürztraminer 2021, giving the line two documented grape expressions.
La 4ème Tour Riesling has an ageing window of 4 to 5 years, during which its mineral characteristics can evolve. The range also includes Riesling wines described through citrus, orchard fruit, mineral notes and dry finishes.