Important Update From the Founder

Guest at STG Alsatian Tasting at Sea Garden

Sea Garden Restaurant, Bellevue, WA

Tasted March 31, 2006 by Not Levine with 701 views

Introduction

Well, I finally got around to posting these. Sorry it wasn't worth the wait, but I did promise to get them up.

I was so lucky to make this dinner on three accounts. 1st, it was a last minute invite and I could still make it, I actually had something to bring, and if I hadn't seen Roy walking into the restaurant, I would have gone to a different restaurant which was coicidentally located only a block away.

Suffice to say, I'm glad I found the right place. The food was just super, and the wines were even better. I don't think there are many pairings out there which rival the Chinese seafood and Alsatian wines. Thank you, Dave, for setting this up.

Flight 1 (13 notes)

Thank you so much, everyone for your largesse. Great, great wines, and lively company. Nice to meet you, Carlos, and I'm glad you were able to join us.

White

1991 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Hengst France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

91 points

Very pale yellow. Nose of lychee and flowers. Pretty sweet and big, with a bitter note on the finish.

Comment

White

2002 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl France, Alsace

flawed

Corked, but very lightly so. Great material under the cardboard.

Comment

White

1991 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Goldert France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

85 points

Dusty, powdery nose. Not much sweetness - rather savory with some complexity, but overall lacking in fruit.

Comment

White

1999 Marcel Deiss Pinot Gris Beblenheim France, Alsace

90 points

This was rather sweet, but started out pretty flat to me. The acid showed up with a little time, and this became nice and minerally, but not amazing.

Comment

White

2000 Marcel Deiss Gewurztraminer Saint-Hippolyte France, Alsace

91 points

Very deep gold , it wasn't hard to tell this was Gewurz. Big nose of lychee and roses, this was great with the food.

Comment

White

1994 Domaine Ernest Burn Pinot Gris Goldert Clos Saint Imer France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

95 points

This gets an OMFG from me. I stood alone on this, but it was WOTN for me. The nose was truly great - mostly licorice which I absolutely love. There was some apparent sweetness on the palate, with lots of licorice and melons. Just super.

Comment

White

1995 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl France, Alsace

94 points

Just a hair behind the Burn, this was also a great wine. I got a big, honking snootful of sweet and sour sauce, which resolved into minerally oyster shells. Yum.

Comment

White

1999 Schoffit Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos St.-Théobald France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

94 points

Really, this was a super flight. This didn't reach the lofty height of the Burn either, it was still quite the focused and delicious package. It was quite a bit sweeter and thicker than the previous two, but really spoke to me of Alsace.

Comment

White

1997 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste. Hune France, Alsace

94 points

Seriously, can this dinner get any better? My first experience with Clos St. Hune, and it did not disappoint. Huge lemon oil and petrol, the palate was massive. It took me a little while to recover from the sweetness of the preceding PGs, but once I did this took a hold of my tongue and didn't let go for minutes.

Comment

White

1990 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile France, Alsace

92 points

Really bright acidity on this one, it suffered from following the CSH. Complex, minerally and with a good finish, it just wasn't as compelling. I'd love to revisit this one on its own.

Comment

White - Off-dry

2001 Albert Mann Riesling Altenbourg Vendanges Tardives France, Alsace

Yeah, right. This was decent, but so overmatched by the other wines it's hard to make an objective comment.

Comment

White - Sweet/Dessert

1996 Schoffit Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos St.-Théobald Sélection de Grains Nobles France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

94 points

My notes pretty much wrap up right here - all it says is "amazingly good".

Comment

White - Sweet/Dessert

2000 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Heimbourg Sélection de Grains Nobles France, Alsace