PHMG WAG: Alsace

Our second, fully white wine tasting in 20 years of hosting this group! Yes, our cellar is 100:1 dry red to dry white, but I dreamed of serving some unique wines that most of this group would not usually buy / taste and do it with some spicier foods than usual.

Served with duck fat fries and my attempt at an Alsatian tart (picture Newman's margherita pizza with my caramelized sweet onions and gruyere added).

• NV Hubert Meyer Pinot Noir Brut Rosé 91 Points

  France, Alsace, Crémant d'Alsace

  A nice start to the tasting with a ridiculously good value wine. $18 for a world class sparkler? This night the strawberry was in force along with red cherry, spice, and some minerality. Very fresh, clean, and long. Shoulda bought a case...

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We had some Pad Thai, pork loin, and my salmon spread all amped up beyond the usual heat levels!

• 2014 Domaine Ostertag Pinot Blanc Barriques 88 Points

  France, Alsace

  Two points to make in this tasting. 1. Ostertag does it right, you get what you pay for or better. 2. Importer Kermit Lynch on a label doesn't hurt either! This bottle had a nice round mouthfeel w/o being viscous like later wines in this tasting. Stone fruit, white citrus, and chalk most noticeable. Better than most PB's from Oregon.

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• 2013 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Réserve Personnelle 89 Points

  France, Alsace

  First and biggest hit of petrol for the evening, this wine leans towards lemon and barely ripe apple. Acidity is doing a jig on my palate, or a waltz, or an Oktoberfest oompah, not sure. Very good with some of the spicier items we served.

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• 2007 Hugel Gewurztraminer Jubilee 90 Points

  France, Alsace

  Oldest of the 10 wines, this bottle had some decent layers to it. Subtle lychee sitting on the early stonefruit, citrus, and spice. Then florals, followed by grapefruit with its touch of bitterness on the finish. Lovely, mature wine with or without food.

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• 2013 Zind-Humbrecht Muscat Goldert 92 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  For anyone who has had any of those awful dessert "muscats" being served in California tasting rooms in the 80's and 90's and was totally turned off...time to rethink! You'll notice the overlap, but be blown by the drier than expected palate that has layers of white fruit and savory elements. Stone /minerals and salinity outline the floral note. Lovely on its own or with all kinds of food. Now-2023.

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• 2013 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl 94 Points

  France, Alsace

  The wine I was most looking forward to in this tasting, we've had lots of great Z-H CW experiences over the years and regret a local retailer giving up on ZH. This bottle opened up immediately with classic Gewurzt aromas including floral notes, spice, and lychee. It had an amazing texture and viscosity without being heavy. The balance for an off dry wine was impeccable and went as well with a spicy ginger teriyaki pork loin as it did with a shortbread cookie! Yumm! Next in 2018.

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• 2009 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile 91 Points

  France, Alsace

  More shale than petrol on the nose, there's also citrus, peach, and pear notes. Bright acidity deserves food and some spice. We obliged. Pad Thai with a little extra sriracha thrown in! Very long on the palate, could save this a long time. Next one in 2019.

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• 2013 Albert Boxler Riesling Brand 94 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  An amazing wine and the second bottle emptied in this tasting. Modest petrol on the nose followed immediately by layers of white citrus, white stone fruit, and white apples...wait, do they...? Great with spicy foods, this just goes on and on. Could go another decade or two!

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• 2012 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain 95 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Even stronger on the nose than the Clos Windsbuhl in this tasting, like someone just dumped a cornucopia of relevant fruit on your face. Similarly viscous on the palate but less sweet and more muscle. "Sublime", said one taster; "glorious", said I. Next in 2022.

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• 2010 Marcel Deiss Schoenenbourg 95 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  My WOTN and why not? Great complexity was the hallmark here and why? It was the most blended of the wines in this tasting; throw in the producer's passion (biodynamic), and terroir, and...magic!. The Riesling might stand out a bit more than other varietals but you just keep sorting through more layers and finding more nuances. Winner of the "Most Red Wine like Award", for its complexity. Balance is amazing and none left for re-tasting on day 2, this was the first bottle emptied. Now-2020 (probably longer...).

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This went over surprisingly well as most of us are Big Red Drinkers and proud of it! Great producers all, and grab one of these next time you're eating at Wild Ginger in Seattle (a must!).