Si j'étais un oiseau 2019 is a natural wine crafted by Anders Frederik Steen, in the Ardeche region in France. This 14.5% oxidative white wine bottled in a 50cl bottle is made with a blend of Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer grapes, sourced from their trusted Bannworth estate in Alsace (where Anne and Anders also have a cellar nearby).
We have not yet tried any of the new Steens, but personally find these oxidative ones the real gems of his releases.
ONE PER ORDER. Lets share the opportunities for rare wines :)
From Anders Frederik Steen:
Si j'étais un oiseau 2019 is a blend of Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer. As we do with most grapes and freshly pressed juice in Alsace, the grapes were pressed overnight, and the juice left for oxidation and start fermentation in open casks.
This fermentation was followed by 6 months of fermentation in a fiberglass tank outside, we did soutirage in the spring of 2020 and left from there for another 5 years of élevage in old barrels, of cause without any topping up. After bottling we decided to save the wine another 6 months in the cellar, as we do with most of our wines, before the release. This to allow the acidity, the rich seaweed salty notes and the oxidation to find each other again. Some wines when they get older and have a long élevage in barrels need time to recreate the balance after bottling. It’s kind of beautiful when time demand to be respected. Gewürztraminer is in general moving slow when it comes to the development and refine the flavors, Pinot Gris we experience as a grape variety that’s moving faster - so it took the 5 years of élevage, before the oxidation started to make its mark and absorb the other aromas.
But as it always goes with aromatic varieties like Gewürztraminer, once the oxidation arrives, the oxidation takes its place and create together with the other aromas this beautiful balance. Now it’s exactly the balance of all these elements that defines this wine – we’re therefore very happy for our decision and patience, something the wine have benefited a lot from.
Documentary on Anders Frederik Steen coming soon...
