2019 Domaine Christophe Mittnacht Terres d'Étoiles Cremant Extra Brut, France, Alsace, Wine Review

This is a certified biodynamic wine made from 60% Pinot Auxerrois, 10% Pinot Blanc, 10% Riesling, 10% Pinot Gris, and 10% Pinot Noir grapes in Alsace, France. Silvery/gold in color with a modest mousse of smaller bubbles. The nose features orange peel, slight floral note and minerality. Medium bodied. On the palate this is lighter in style. Citrus with underlying minerality. Nice finish. This drinks easy on its own but will work better with food. It would be very nice with an Onion Tart. Drink over the next few years.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2019

Alsace Wines: Some of France’s Great White Wines

Along the French border with Germany lies the region of Alsace (all-SAHss). The region’s customs are a combination of both the French and German culture, a result of the political turmoil this region has long experienced. Alsace has changed ownership four times in the past few hundred years. Since World War I, this area has belonged to France. The wines, however, bear as much resemblance to the wines of Germany as they do to the wines of France. To be more precise, the wines of Alsace are a hybrid of the two, yet distinct from either.

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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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Top 75 French Wines to Try Before You Quit Drinking (a non-dump bucket list if you will!)

If you are a wine lover, wine connoisseur, wine aficionado or even if you just like to have a couple of glasses on a Friday night, it soon becomes obvious that there are some wines that are held in a higher esteem in the wine world. Sometimes, it is because these wines are very rare. Other times, it’s because the wine has a place in history. Sometimes it’s because the wine is just that good. Here is a list of 75 wines from France that make up that category. A few caveats. I have not tried every wine on this list. Some I have and others I hope to. Many of these wines are rare and hard to find. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be on the list. After all, if the opportunity presents itself, go for it.

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NV Willm Crémant d'Alsace Blanc de Blanc, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$12.00USD

Most times when one reads Blanc de Blancs it is assumed Chardonnay. In this case, however, the blend is 10% Gewurztraminer, 30% Pinot Blanc, 30% Pinot Gris, and 30% Riesling. The wine is light golden in color and has a nice mousse of smaller bubbles. The nose has pears with some lemon/citrus. Nice minerality. Medium bodied with good acidity and good balance. On the palate, this has some citrus along with minerality. Good finish. Very food friendly, it went well with an Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Chive Tart (no easy match). Drink now.

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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2019 Domaine Christophe Mittnacht Terres d'Étoiles Cremant Extra Brut, France, Alsace, Wine Review

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