Keuka Spring, Finger Lakes, Gewurztraminer 2008 The nose features spicy floral notes, like roses and very pretty at that. In the mouth it is round, with a little RS, lots of lychee fruit, and a brightness that eludes many of the same grape – brilliant.
This wine was a big winner at this year’s Chronicle where [...]

read more from this topic.....

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 [...]

read more from this topic.....

The Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers hosted a seminar and tasting yesterday to showcase the passing of the torch in California’s winegrowing families.
Featured speakers included Warren Bogle, whose family has been farming in Clarksburg for 6 generations. I’ve often featured their great value wines on this blog and in my classes. [...]

read more from this topic.....

Navarro, Mendocino, Gewurztraminer, Grape Juice 2008
This has long been a personal favorite of mine and during our trip to Mendo in March we were treated to a new way to enjoy it. At Cafe Beaujolais the juice was made into a spritzer with soda water. Throughout the summer we repeated the scene at home, enjoying [...]

read more from this topic.....

Taft Street, Russian River Valley, Pinot Gris 2008 The glass is filled with perfume and cotton candy – a very pretty Pinot Gris.  In the mouth it is moderately acidic and tastes of citrus overlaid with flowers. P&B in Sebastopol 14.1% $11.99 at Bottle Barn Taft Street
Kunde Estate, Sonoma Valley, Destination Series, Gewurztraminer 2008 This [...]

read more from this topic.....

Husch, Anderson Valley, Gewurztraminer 2007 This Gewurz has a lot of sweet perfume in the nose. In the mouth, it’s fresh, tasting of lychee with just a bit of RS at .8% – nice. GP&B in Philo 13.9% $9.99 at Bottle Barn Husch

read more from this topic.....

Elena Walch, Alto Adige, Gewurztraminer 2007 Let this current vintage air a bit as its a little stinky at first. With time the roses that you expect emerge. Though the wine is dry, the body is big and viscous, low in acidity and very textbook Gewurz. P&B in Termano 14% $21.69 at Bottle Barn Elena [...]

read more from this topic.....

Hibou de Nuit, Sonoma County, Gewurztraminer 2006 The nose features a vibrant combo of floral and tropical notes, including pineapple and candied banana. In the mouth this Gewurz is quite dense with a streak of acidity to keep it fresh. It’s like a look toward Alsace with a New World sense of freshness. Winemaker Tom [...]

read more from this topic.....

Navarro, Anderson Valley, Estate Bottled, Dry, Gewurztraminer 2007 Another long-time favorite from Navarro that captures the smell of Gewurz without the sweetness. In the nose it is like roses and baby powder while the mouth is fuller-bodied than you find in the darling Muscat along with a touch of the natural bitterness that often comes [...]

read more from this topic.....

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 [...]

read more from this topic.....

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. [...]

read more from this topic.....

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 [...]

read more from this topic.....

When Vacu-Dry ceased operations in Sebastopol, California, many bemoaned the continuing decline of the apple industry in Sonoma’s West County region. Yet from those ashes many a high-flying phoenix has taken flight.
The large and rather dingy industrial complex that used to house Vacu-Dry has been turned into a rabbit warren of artisan winemakers, each with [...]

read more from this topic.....

Thomas Fogarty, Monterey, Gewurztraminer 2003
Kudos to Fogarty for continuing to produce this wine. Earlier this summer we tasted the ‘06 which was showing these youthful characteriestics: spicy floral notes, a hint of RS and the taste of fresh lychee – a very fresh style of Gewurz. .4% RS. With this wine we travel back [...]

read more from this topic.....

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 [...]

read more from this topic.....

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. [...]

read more from this topic.....

Perhaps the next best thing to wine; anyone who has made wine knows how delicious this is. Yes, I’m talking about freshly crushed grape juice. Navarro has longed shared this specialty with the rest of the world and tonight we sample both. Not a drop of alcohol is in either bottle. They are produced and [...]

read more from this topic.....

Navarro Anderson Valley Estate Bottle Dry Muscat 2006
This wine has consistently dazzled with the ebulent smell of Muscat in a dry format. Tonight it is perfect again. P&B in the little hamlet of Philo 13.5% $19 at the winery Navarro
Sauvignon Republic Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006
The Russian River bottling has shown itself [...]

read more from this topic.....

Harvest Moon Russian River Valley Dry Gewurztraminer 2007
Estate grown fruit and some oak treatment. G, P&B in Santa Rosa. 12.5% $?? at the winery, winery sample Harvest Moon
Rosemount Estate South Eastern Australia Traminer Riesling 2005
65% Gewurz and 35% Riesling. P&B in Denman in New South Wales. 11.5% $4.99 at Bottle Barn Rosemount

read more from this topic.....

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 [...]

read more from this topic.....

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

read more from this topic.....

Holdredge Russian River Valley Saralee’s Vineyard Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2006
36.4 Brix at harvest and 10.2% RS, P&B Healdsburg 13.65% $26.99 at Bottle Barn (375ml) Holdgredge
Davis Family Russian River Valley Rapport Fortified Old Vine Zinfandel Dessert Wine 2005
V&B Healdsburg 16.8% $26.99 (375ml) at Bottle Barn Davis Family

read more from this topic.....

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 [...]

read more from this topic.....