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 with a moderate touch of residual sugar and bit of Gewurz’s characteristic bitterness. Mis en bouteille [...]

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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 a bit of bubbly from France. Mis en bouteille par Hubert Laugner in Orschwiller 12.5% [...]

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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 Albrecht was the founder back in 1425. Proprietor and winemaker Jean Albrecht. Bottled in Orschwihr 13% $15.49 [...]

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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, with a bit of the bitterness you would find by biting into the pit. All [...]

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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 there is a minerality adding complexity. In the mouth, there are peaches and oranges, with [...]

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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, Colette, Catherine et Laurence, proprietaires and vignerons a Kaysersberg 13.5% $24.99 at Bottle Barn Weinbach

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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 family, Colette, Catherine et Laurence, proprietaires and vignerons a Kaysersberg 13.5% $35.99 at Bottle Barn [...]

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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 on the lees after the second fermentation. Proprietor and winemaker Jean Albrecht. Produced in Orschwihr [...]

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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, long time. Mis par Leonard et Olivier Humbrecht in Turckheim 13.5% $125.99 at K&L

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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

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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 the domaine’s Clos des Capucins in Kaysersberg. Mis en bouteille in Kaysersberg 14% $42.99 at [...]

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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 bitterness with the light residual sugar. It’s too bad the cork let this wine down. [...]

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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 carrying the flavors of limes and lemons a long time. The average age of the [...]

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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 12.6% $14.99 at Bottle Barn

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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 have been a consistent spot-on value in notes back to the 2003 vintage. Vinifie et [...]

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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, Pinot Grigio 2007 There’s a sense of melons, stone fruits and citrus. It’s like putting an orange [...]

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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 price. Mis en bouteille a Ribeauville 12.5% $11.79 at Bottle Barn Trimbach
Martin Schaetzel, Alsace, Cuvee [...]

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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 concentrated. Mis en bouteille a la propriete a Kaysersberg 13.5% $42.99 at Bottle Barn Weinbach
Thomas Fogarty [...]

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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 Walch Alto Adige Gewurztraminer DOC 2006
Lots of spicy rose, broad and with a touch of classic Gwz bitterness. [...]

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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 Weinbach Alsace Riesling Reserve Personnelle 2005
The last time tasted in 2007 my notes stated simply, structured Riesling with [...]

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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 Walch
McManis Family Vineyards California Pinot Grigio 2006
Last time out this wine showed vibrant grapefruit and high acid. [...]

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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

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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. The Hui has great depth of flavor.
Shaky Bridge Central Otago Pinot Gris [...]

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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 radiates roses and parfume, in a light-bodied format with a hint of RS, classic touch of bitterness [...]

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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 very refreshing Pinot Blanc. The Faller family has been a leader in biodynamic viticulture in Alsace. [...]

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