Description
Biodynamic. Weinbach is one of the very finest domaines for this grape variety in Alsace. The style stands out for its purity, balance and savouriness—and for the lack of overt, confected notes that mark so many examples. Restrained focus is the theme. At the northern limit of Altenbourg, the terraced slopes of Furstentum rise swiftly from 300 to 400 metres at the top of the Mont de Sigolsheim. This steep, south-facing slope is one of the great terroirs for Gewürztraminer in Alsace. The soil is brown clay full of limestone, with a pebbly structure that holds both moisture and warmth.
Crafted from low-yielding 90-year-old vines, as always, this terroir has produced a remarkable, textural Gewürztraminer in 2021. In a word – wow. An intricate nose of honeysuckle, blossom and exotic florals gives way to an opulent mouthfeel studded with delicious candied orange notes and juicy ripe peach. The finish is dense and pure, with a bead of balancing acidity and overt minerality. The balance is sublime, and the length is detailed and refreshing, finishing with more sweet/sour orange fruits. No one does Gewürz quite like this. With roughly 48 g/L residual (balanced by structure and freshness), this would be brilliant with terrine, pâté and, again, many styles of Asian cuisine—more specifically, chilli crab or other spicy seafood dishes. Of course, it’s also a winning match with Munster or Époisses (or most washed-rind cheeses).
| Type | White Wine |
|---|---|
| Varietal(s) | Gewurztraminer |
| Country | France |
| Region | Alsace |
| Brand | Domaine Weinbach |
| Vintage | 2021 |
Alsatian wine
Alsace is a unique wine region in North Eastern France, bordering Germany and having also been under German control for much of its existence. Due to this influence, unlike other French regions, wines from Alsace are mostly single varietal bottlings and are also labelled with the variety. They also are legally required to use a tall slimmer bottle called flûtes d’Alsace, that is also commonly seen with German wines.
Almost all the wine produced in the region is white (90%) except for Pinot Noir which is used mainly for sparkling wine. Alsace is most known for its Riesling, which is dry, fresh and floral in its youth but develops complex mineral and flint character with age. Following behind is Gewurztraminer with signature spice and beautiful lychee aromatics. The smell of this wine is intoxicating, it is used to make dry but also late harvest dessert wines. Pinot Gris is also a prized variety of the region with its combination of crisp acidity and savory spice as well as ripe stone fruit flavours.
In Autumn humidity builds up to facilitate the development of “noble rot” to produce late-picked sweet wines. In Alsace there are two classifications for late harvest wines: Vendange Tardive (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN). VT for regular late harvest wines and SGN meaning grapes affected by noble rot.
Other varieties grown here include Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Auxerrois, Chasselas and Sylvaner.
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