Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
Acorn Andrea Oberto Atlas Peak Benziger Beringer Blandy's Bodega Navarro Correas Burgans Cantina Terlano Chimney Rock Chronicle Domaine Carneros Domaine de la Mordoree Dow's Dr. Loosen Emilio Lustau Fonseca Foxen Gaston Riviere Glen Ellen Hess Collection Innocent Bystander Kendall-Jackson Korbel La Caudrina Luna Vineyards Madeira Wine Company Martin Codax Masi Merryvale Mulderbosch Navarro Vineyards Pahlmeyer Roederer Estate Ruggeri Sawyer Cellars Sbragia Six Sigma Winery St. James Steltzner Vineyards Trinchero Winery Trione V. Sattui Winery William Fevre Wilson Winery
Category Archives: Alsace
New and Old World Gewurztraminer
This flight features two very different incarnations of this grape; both well-done yet very different. Domaine Zind Humbrecht, Alsace, Gewurztraminer 2008 The nose features roses galore, a spicy floral production with honey and tropical fruit in the mix as well. … Continue reading
Lucien Albrecht Pinot Blanc 2008
Lucien Albrecht, Alsace, Pinot Blanc, Cuvee Balthazar 2008 The nose features flowers and minerality. In the mouth the fruit has a candy-like character, framed by acidity. The body is light and augmented by a little creaminess. Balthazar Albrecht settled in … Continue reading
Trimbach Gewurztraminer 2006
Trimbach, Alsace, Gewurztraminer 2006 In the nose you’ll find lychee, spicy flowers, green herbs and roses. In the mouth this rendering of the grape is broad, lowish in acid, rounded, featuring an evolved tropical fruit character, a sense of complexity … Continue reading
Allimant-Laugner Rose
Allimant-Laugner, Cremant d’Alsace, Rose nv There’s a light sense of fresh biscuits in the nose and tangy cherry fruit in the mouth with a lingering creaminess. This makes for a nice, clean, inexpensive alternative to Champagne when you would like … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, Cremant d'Alsace, France, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
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Lucien Albrecht Pinot Gris 2008
Lucien Albrecht, Alsace, Pinot Gris, Cuvee Romanus 2008 Fresh pears combine with green herbs in the nose. In the mouth this wine is round, combining a little residual sugar with moderate acidity and richness – a nice value again. Romanus … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, France, Pinot Gris and Grigio
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Roland Schmitt Pinot Gris 2007
Roland Schmitt, Alsace, Pinot Gris 2007 In the nose you’ll find candy and stone fruits. In the mouth the concentration is rather light with a bit of residual sugar and the warmth of alcohol. The fruit is reminiscent of peaches, … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, France, Pinot Gris and Grigio
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Weinbach Catherine Pinot Gris 2007
Domaine Weinbach, Alsace, Cuvee Ste. Catherine, Pinot Gris 2007 This is a another gem from Weinbach. In the nose there are candied fruits, as in a fresh fruit tart glazed with a layer of sweetness while at the same time … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, France, Pinot Gris and Grigio
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Weinbach Riesling 2007
Domaine Weinbach, Alsace, Riesling, Reserve Personnelle 2007 Stone fruits meld with floral notes in the nose. The mouth displays Riesling’s minerality with ample acidity and a roundness and depth of flavor – nice. Mis en bouteille par the Faller family, … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, California, France, Riesling
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Weinbach Cuvee Theo Riesling 2006
Domaine Weinbach, Alsace, Cuvee Theo, Riesling 2006 The petrol elements are coming through in the nose. In the mouth, the wine is mineral-driven, hard and still a baby, quite dry and tasting of lime. Mis en bouteille par the Faller … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, France, Riesling
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Lucien Albrecht Brut Rose
Lucien Albrecht, Cremant d’Alsace, Brut, Rose nv In the nose are candied fruits and flowers. The mouth is quite fruity, moderately acidic with some creaminess – nice value. This wine is all Pinot Noir and the wine spends 9 months … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, Cremant d'Alsace, France, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
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Zind Humbrecht Clos Jebsal SGN 2000
Domaine Zind Humbrecht, Alsace, Clos Jebsal, Selection de Grains Nobles, Pinot Gris There’s honey, caramel and minerals in the nose. In the mouth there is caramel framed by acidity to keep it fresh. The caramel flavor goes on a long, … Continue reading
Barmes Buecher Pinot Noir 2005
Domaine Barmes Buecher, Alsace, Reserve, Pinot Noir 2005 Unfortunately this wine is corked. Produced by Genevieve & Francois Barmes in Wettolsheim 13.5% $23.99 at K&L Domaine Barmes Buecher
Posted in Alsace, France, Pinot Noir
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Weinbach Cuvee Theo Gewurztraminer 2006
Domaine Weinbach, Alsace, Cuvee Theo, Gewurztraminer 2006 There’s an intense amount of roses and minerality in the nose. The palate has moderate levels of residual sugar and is quite lusch, thick and rich. The grapes for this wine come from … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, France, Gewurztraminer
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Marcel Deiss Burg 2002
Domaine Marcel Deiss, Alsace, Burg 2002 The wine has aged prematurely with a cork that failed to seal completely. Unfortunately, the fruit is drying out and there’s a bit of nail polish. There’s bruised peach character in the mouth and … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Grigio, Riesling
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Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile 2001
Trimbach, Alsace, Cuvee Frederic Emile, Riesling 2001 The development of vaseline is quite evident in the nose. In the mouth the wine is dry with great concentration, minerality, a hardness that speaks youthfulness 7 years on and lots of acidity … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, France, Riesling
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Roland Schmitt Pinot Blanc 2007
Roland Schmitt, Alsace, Pinot Blanc 2007 The nose features an enticing mix of citrus and tropical fruits. The mouth is clean and fruity and almost dry – an excellent aperitif. Produced by Anne-Marie Schmitt et ses fils, proprietaires-recoltants a Bergbieten … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, France, Pinot Blanc
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Wines of France
Verget, Macon Villages, “Grand Elevage” 2006 There’s a mix of minerality and doughy notes in the nose while the mouth is steely with a bit of slipperiness coating the tongue, adding richness to the austerity. From Jean-Marie Guffen, whose Chardonnays … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, Burgundy, Chardonnay, France, Gewurztraminer, Macon-Villages
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PB and PG
Cantina Terlano, Alto Adige DOC, Pinot Bianco 2007 This wine has been consistently fresh and aromatic and the ’07 is on form. Estate Bottled in Terlano 13% $19.99 at Traverso’s and $15.99 at Bottle Barn Terlano McManis Family Vineyards, California, … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, Alto Adige, California, Italy, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Grigio
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Budget Alsatians
Trimbach, Alsace, Pinot Blanc 2005 Light floral notes mark the nose and the mouth has a rather creamy texture, very little residual sugar, a moderate amount of acid and the taste of stone fruits; it’s nice and simple for the … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, France, Pinot Blanc, Riesling
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Further differentiation between Riesling and Gewurz
Domaine Weinbach Alsace Grand Cru Schlossberg Riesling 2006 This wine is the middle offering of the domaine’s Rieslings designed for savoury food. There’s a beautiful perfume , lots of flowers and Riesling’s characteristic racy acidity. This dry wine is very … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, California, France, Gewurztraminer, Monterey County, Riesling
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Riesling and Gewurztraminer differentiated
Though often talked about in the same breath, these two grapes are quite dissimiliar. Esterlina Cole Ranch Dry Riesling 2006 Concentrated stone fruit wrapped in acidity – long, great, delicious. P&B in Healdsburg 13.8% $14.99 at Bottle Barn Esterlina Elena … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, Alto Adige, California, France, Gewurztraminer, Italy, Riesling
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Some whites that may surprise!
How about Pinot Blanc, Dry Riesling and powerful Gewurztraminer? Cantina Terlano Alto Adige Pinot Bianco DOC 2006 This wine has been consistently fresh and aromatic and it is again. Estate Bottled in Terlano 13% $13.69 at Bottle Barn Terlano Domaine … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, Alto Adige, France, Gewurztraminer, Italy, Pinot Blanc, Riesling
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PG 3 Revisited
Elena Walch Alto Adige Pinot Grigio DOC 2006 Last time tasted this wine was clean, full of acidity and fruit. The stony minerality is in force on this round as well. P&B in Termeno 13% $14.49 at Bottle Barn Elena … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, Alto Adige, California, France, Italy, Pinot Gris and Grigio
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Gewurzzzzzzzzzzz
Steve Bird Marlborough Old Schoolhouse Vineyard Gewurztraminer 2006 P&B in Tauranga 13.5% $12.49 at Bottle Barn Steve Bird Lucien Albrecht Alsace Gewurztraminer Reserve 2006 Winemaker and proprietor Jean Albrecht. Bottled in Orschwihr 13% $14.49 at Bottle Barn Albrecht
Posted in Alsace, Gewurztraminer, Marlborough, New Zealand
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PG 3
This flight provides some noticeable contrast in PG styles. The Shaky Bridge has a bit of onion-skin color and herbaceous characters with some of that BO we associate with Sauvignon. The Albrecht Alsatian is quite rounded and lower in acidity. … Continue reading
Gewurz is not second rate
Gewurztraminer has its detractors out there, yet I remain a fan. This flight features two regions that embrace this variety, Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley and sunny Alsace in the eastern reaches of France. Handley Anderson Valley Gewurztraminer 2006 This wine … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, Anderson Valley, Gewurztraminer, Mendocino County
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Alsatian aperitif
Domaine Weinbach Alsace Reserve Pinot Blanc 2005 This is a gem. There is fresh citrus, stone fruit and floral notes to smell. In the mouth there is a moderate+ amount of acidity and the taste of citrus. This is a … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, France, Pinot Blanc
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