2021 Willm Gentil Reserve, France, Alsace, Wine Review

The name Gentil means that the blend has at least 50% Alsace noble varietals (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat or Gewurztraminer). Maison Willm usually has 80-90% of these noble varietals with the rest Pinot Blanc. Golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is nice with peach notes and some minerality. Light to medium body with a slightly creamy texture. Moderate acidity. On the palate, this shows sour lemon drops which are quite refreshing. Good finish. This is nice on its own and will work with lighter salads and also fish dishes. Drink over the next few years.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2021

Current Price:

$15.00USD

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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2017 Hugel Gentil "Hugel", France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$14.00USD

Always one of the great value whites, it had been a few vintages since I had tried this. Still quite good. It is a blend of 40% Sylvaner, with Pinot Blanc Auxerrois, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, and a little Gewürztraminer, Muscat Ottonel and Muscat d’Alsace. The name Gentil is therefore reserved for AOC Alsace wines fulfilling the superior-quality blending standards.

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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2021 Willm Gentil Reserve, France, Alsace, Wine Review

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