WEEKLY FLIGHT 11/4 through 11/6/2021 - Exploring Alsace

• Posted on 4 November 2021
• By Mark Meissner

The Alsace might be called "a somm's dream region" and one of the most celebrated (and least understood) wine enclaves of France. This stunning area, bordering France and Germany, offers not just storybook-like villages and a world-famous Routes de Vin, but passionate vignerons who have been producing stunning wines here since the early 16th century.

The region juxtaposes both mystery and beauty, with the underpinnings of a historical border conflict between the French and Germans which seems to still continue to this day. I remember visiting the many WWI memorials across the Vosges mountains, only to discover the hidden gems and vast swaths of vines which make this one of my favorite wine regions in the world.

The Alsatian wines arguably are some of the most complex, fragrant and expressive contributions to the bonafide world of wine - full stop. And if you're really interested in continuing your own personal 'wine journey', I emphatically suggest you really explore and investigate the wines of the Alsace.

With that, this week we bring you three brilliant producers of dry wine from the region and all contenders for your Thanksgiving picks! Drop by and experience three of the white noble grapes: Pinot Gris, Gewürtztraminer and Riesling.

Pierre Sparr Gewürztraminer Grand Reserve 2019 - $27 $27/bottle   Alsace has been celebrated for its lovely, dry white wines for centuries. In the heart of Alsace’s finest district, the Haut-Rhin, Maison Pierre Sparr follows a 300-year-old tradition of winemaking that began in 1680, during the reign of King Louis XIV.   Today, the devotion to the land, the attention to the smallest detail and the uncompromising quest for excellence can been seen in every bottle bearing the Sparr crest.   A whiff of passion fruit lends a tropical twist to the nose on this wine. The palate presents a juicy combination of peach, yellow plum and rose petal, with a soft sweetness and zesty, medium-dry finish.

Kuentz Bas Riesling "Trois Chateaux" 2018 $34/bottle   Kuentz-Bas has been biodynamic since the 2008 vintage. The wines are grown according to ancestral biodynamic practices without modern technology. The grapes are delicately pressed whole for 8 to 16 hours in order to extract the finest aromas from each berry. The fermentation takes 6 to 8 months to emphasize the work done in the vineyard. The fermentation with indigenous yeasts begins and stops on its own. Once the fermentation is complete, the wines are aged on fine lees, before the filtration and the bottling.   On the nose, it reveals an intense complexity that mixes yellow fruits like apricot, nectarine and Mirabelle plum, enhanced by the mineral expression of its terroir. The palate is frank and juicy, the aromatic complexity of the nose is also expressed here with richness and finesse.   A true Riesling of dry and intense soil with a beautiful final freshness, typical for its climate.

Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve 2016 $37/bottle   Since 1626, the Trimbach family has been promoting the history, exceptional terroirs and fine wines of Alsace. Maison Trimbach is located in Ribeauvillé, where today three generations work closely together. Day-to-day operations are handled personally by brothers Pierre and Jean Trimbach, representing the 12th generation! The Trimbachs have a purist vision - the family has always produced wines that are structured, long-lived, fruity, elegant and balanced: the celebrated Trimbach style. Bottles remain in the cellar for several years before reaching the marketplace, ensuring the wines are both ready to drink upon release but also hold great aging potential.   Vivid deep straw. White flowers, apple butter, lemon curd and honey plus a touch of vanilla on the nose and in the mouth. A touch of ripe Mirabelle plum joins the pear fruit on the nose. The resolutely dry palate holds them tight on a very concentrated, fresh but also earthy body. Fresh, clean and much richer and denser than Trimbach’s entry-level Pinot Gris. A zesty, mouthwatering finish!