Creamier and richer yet also clearer, purer, and more refined than the estate’s other Pinot Gris bottlings from this vintage, the 2005 Pinot Gris Altenbourg Cuvee Laurence smells and tastes of honey-drenched peach and blood orange and richly toasted nut oils. While quite sweet in finish, this sumptuous Pinot Gris is utterly luscious and inviting – indeed compelling – of the proverbial next sip. It should benefit from at least 7-9 further years in bottle.The dynamic trio of Fallers continues to bottle some of France’s (hardly just Alsace’s) richest and most flamboyant wines. Beginning with 2005, all of their vineyards are being biodynamically farmed. Laurence Faller finds their 2005s in general “more focused and clear” (this was especially true of Riesling) despite their often prominent botrytis component, and the 2004s richer. I suppose it goes without saying, but one has to carefully scrutinize each Weinbach label, so numerous are the cuvees. And as wonderful as is the distinctiveness exhibited by the vast majority of wines here, even a geek like yours truly could be forgiven for asking whether somewhat fewer different bottlings might benefit consumers as well as journalists!Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802