2016 Jean Biecher et Fils Altenberg de Bergheim, France, Alsace, Wine Review

An interesting blend of Gewurztraminer and Riesling. It was sold for $20 which is a nice value. Light gold/green in color. Oddly, this seems to have some trapped CO2 in the bottle as it shows up on the glass if the not the palate. Neither varietal seems to be very pronounced on the nose, although both show up a bit. Slight lychee, apricot and minerals. On the palate, this is viscous. A perception of sweetness but seems dry though ripe. Lychees and apricots. Good finish. Will work well with Indian or Thai food.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2018

Current Price:

$20.00USD

Vins de France 101: Alsace, France’s Little Wine Treasure

Take a deep breath. While exhaling, say “Ahhhl zas.” It resonates like a yoga mantra with the emphasis on “Ahhh.” The phonetic version of Alsace reveals the beauty of this little border province and the prominence of one of France’s smallest wine regions. It harbors a medieval landscape from a bygone era. Half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and Romanesque churches have you anticipating someone heavily cloaked in costume to walk by you munching on a giant turkey leg.

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Thanksgiving Wines - Whites

Tim Halloran's piece on Thanksgiving Reds can be viewed here . Thanksgiving dinner, while delicious and nutritious (well, at least delicious) is not the easiest meal to pair with wines. So many different elements are present; there are savory/mild foods like turkey, gravy, yams and potatoes, crisp/acidic foods like cranberry sauce and salads, and hearty foods like ham and stuffing. Throw in a few other vegetables and you have a veritable cornucopia of flavors and textures to match.

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2016 Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Reserve, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

Light golden in color with some green hues swirling about. A very nice nose with lychee nuts, slight peaches and almonds. On the palate, this has a slight bitterness that is often found in Gewurztraminer. It is medium sweet which is also what the indice on the back label indicates. The palate has slight peach with nice minerality. Slightly viscous. Consumed over two days, it was better on day 2 with the bitterness receding and the wine coming together. Reasonably food friendly with lighter foods though would also work well with heavier spiced foods such as Indian or Thai. It probabl

2015 Biecher & Schaal Riesling Schoenenbourg

Vintage:

2007

Score:

Grade:

B+

Alsace is a nice source for affordable dry Rieslings. This one is light gold in color. The nose has grapefruit, slight peach and minerality. Medium bodied. Dry on the palate. More about minerals than fruit. Easy to drink. Nice finish. This was under $20 and certainly worth the price. Drink over the next five to seven years. This will work well with Thai food.

1988 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain Vendange Tardive, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage:

1988

Score:

Grade:

The evening wasn't quite done and this fit the bill for a little something sweet to finish the night. From a 375ml bottle. Deep golden/orange in color. The nose is pretty with lychees, oranges and slight simple syrup. Also a nice underlying minerality. On the palate, this is slightly viscous. Much fresher than a bottle a couple of years ago. Lychees, apricots with a bit of sweetness. A nice bit of acidity to balance things out. Long finish that was clean and without bitterness. Just delicious and interesting to sip on its own, it would work with a slightly sweet dessert.

2016 Jean Biecher et Fils Altenberg de Bergheim, France, Alsace, Wine Review

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