EWG does Gewurztraminer with Chinese food

The Eastside Wine Group's latest edition was Alsatian Gewurztraminer with Chinese food. David Lewin worked with Yujean Kang to set up a tremendous meal that really high lighted how well these wines can work with excellent Asian cuisine. Excellent food and wines all around and a big thanks to David for putting this together. We left stuffed for $60 all in.

The wines as mentioned terrific across the board, from young to old and big to light and sweet to nearly dry. I really found a contrast in the styles of the wines in the way te fruit expressed itself which I want to attribute to the ripeness though I am unsure if that is the case or not. I first noticed it in the color where some wines were very coppery in color and others closer to clear. On the darker colored wines I also noticed a quality of baked fruits most often as well as a bigger louder expression. The lighter wines seemed more restrained and on the elegant prettier side most often. Both worked for me and worked with the food. I can say that I think I liked the way the more restrained wines aged a bit better though that is a fine distinction. I think for Gewurz I also prefer the wine to be towards the dryer end most often but did find some of the sweeter bottles among my favorites of the night.

My personal WOTN was the '94 ZH Herrenweg. Other favs were the 89 ZH Clos Windsbuhl, 00 Trimbach Ribeaupierre, 02 ZH Clos Saint Urbain, all three 05's and the 89 ZH Vendage Tardive. But all wines performed well that were not corked so the favorites didn't exactly stand out.

All the food was excellent as well with the eggplant, duck and lamb being real stand outs and that is saying something as eggplant is not a favorite for me normally.

Served with chicken in Kung Pao sauce covered with minced chicken cooked in a wine sauce with baby bok choy.

• 2007 Weingut Pfeffingen Gewürztraminer Spätlese

  Germany, Pfalz

  Big ripe nose of spicy flowers. This had some RS though had a light feel. White stone fruits with spice and a bit of a sweet 'n sour split. Though out shined by the heavier hitters on the night this was a nice surprise.

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• 2007 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Réserve Personnelle Flawed

  France, Alsace

  Initially this had the character of a spicy gingered Riesling. Some bitterness and dirty characters came out. Some said it was corked. I'll go with that though I never got a strong whiff of TCA.

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• 2001 Albert Mann Gewurztraminer Steingrübler

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Light ginger and a bit of diesel on the nose. Oily textured with rich thickness still. Showed some orange rind and light maple flavors. This needs more bottle time to let the fatness lean out for my palate.

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Served with eggplant with minced pork and black cod with soy sauce and sesame seeds and Chinese broccoli.

• 1989 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl

  France, Alsace

  Light petrol over a nose of baked fruits and orange zest. Big and wide, even a bit chunky with loads of complexity with even a touch of earthiness. Definitely showed some age on the nose and palate but not going anywhere soon. A tremendous wine on the big expressive side of the spectrum.

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• 1994 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Herrenweg de Turckheim

  France, Alsace

  Lovely and pretty nose showing classic light ginger with orange rinds and marmalade. Big fruited but elegant oily mouth feel with lots of length. Excellent. This is what great aged Gewurz is about for me. My WOTN.

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Served with shrimp, roasted walnuts and asparagus with garlic sauce and tofu, shitake mushrooms, Chinese sausage and lima beans with Chinese rice wine sauce

• 2000 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Wintzenheim

  France, Alsace

  Initially pretty tight the nose grew with air showing sappy baked peaches and oranges. Baked fruits again on the palate with a character wet autumn leaves and baked peaches most prominent but was light in expression overall. I would guess this is one to err on the younger side with.

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• 2000 Trimbach Gewurztraminer Cuvée des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre

  France, Alsace

  Sappy lightly expressive nose. Pretty and elegant palate with plenty of weight. Honey notes come out on the finish later on. I think this one is drinking very young but was very good and should be better with a few more years in bottle. One of my favorites on the evening.

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• 2001 Trimbach Gewurztraminer Cuvée des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre Flawed

  France, Alsace

  Huge whiff of TCA to start. Others didn't smell it but it seemed very sullen and completely devoid of expression in their glasses. Corked.

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• 2002 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Spices over baked fruits. Big rich and busy palate with lots of length and complexity. Orange zest notes were most notable. Another favorite on the evening for me but on the bigger wilder side of Gewurz to me.

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Served with tea smoked duck and lamb with Kabucha sauce.

• 2005 Albert Mann Gewurztraminer Steingrübler

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Big and juicy yet nicely balance. Lots of spice and ginger. In contrast to a month ago I preferred the Furstentum on this night though both are very good but in need of cellar time.

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• 2005 Albert Mann Gewurztraminer Furstentum Vieilles Vignes

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Sweet nose of honey, candied apricots and apples. Plenty of RS on the palate in contrast to the Steingrubler but not overwhelming with a light palate feel. Sweet peaches with ginger and orange flavors. Really showed well tonight. I think it will be better in 10 years also.

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• 2005 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Heimbourg

  France, Alsace

  Rocky mineral nose. Plenty of RS here but very pretty. Expressive palate with plenty of spice and florals on the finish. Another terrific wine on a evening full of very good wines.

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• 1976 Hugel Gewurztraminer Vendange Tardive SGN Sélectionneé par Jean Hugel

  France, Alsace

  This was actually in a 700ml bottle and was from 'fut 28'. Metallic nose like wet pennies with some candied nuts. Earthy funk initially this really started gaining weight in the glass coming up with some ripe red apple notes later on. Still good and interesting to drink but has seen better days.

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• 1989 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Herrenweg de Turckheim Vendange Tardive

  France, Alsace

  Nose showing some dry soil with wet brown leaves and baked apples. Good length with pretty sweetness and tart apple notes that really linger.

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