Alsace
Alsace
A narrow strip on the French side of the Rhine, sheltered from Atlantic weather by the Vosges mountains — which makes it one of the driest and sunniest places in northern France. It is also the one French region that puts the grape variety on the front label, a habit inherited from its long spells under German rule.
The grapes
Four are designated nobles and are the only ones permitted for Grand Cru: Riesling, dry and firm; Gewurztraminer, strongly aromatic; Pinot Gris, broad and often faintly sweet; and Muscat, grapey and dry. Around them, Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner, Pinot Noir for the region's only red, and Crémant d'Alsace — France's largest-volume Crémant.
The classifications
Fifty-one Grand Cru vineyards, each named on the label. Vendanges Tardives means late-harvested; Sélection de Grains Nobles is made from botrytised fruit. Both denote how the grapes were picked, and both result in sweetness.
Serving
8–10°C. Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris are better at 10–12°C — over-chilled, the aromatics you paid for do not appear.
One more glass
The tall slim green bottle Alsace uses is called a flûte, and many people read it as a signal that the wine inside is sweet. It signals nothing. The shape is a regional bottling rule — a bone-dry Riesling and a dessert-sweet Sélection de Grains Nobles arrive in the identical bottle.
The reliable guide is the back label, where most producers now print a dryness scale of 1 to 5. Two things worth being clear about: sweetness is not a quality tier — an off-dry Pinot Gris is not a lesser wine than a dry Riesling, it is a different one; and how much residual sugar you enjoy is a preference, not a level of expertise. Tell us which end of the scale you like and we will read the sheet for you.
Filters
MAISON TRIMBACH/ALSACE Riesling 2023 (1x75cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Grand cru Brand 2018 (1x75cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Le Kottabe, Alsace AOC 2023 (1x75cl)
F E Trimbach Gewurztraminer 2019 Alsace (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Gewurztraminer Classic 2023 (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Gentil Blanc 2024 (1x75cl)
F E Trimbach Riesling Reserve 2019 (1x75cl)
Rene Mure, Clos Saint Landelin Pinot Noir 2018 (1x75cl)
Rene Mure, Grand Cru Vorbourg Clos Saint Landelin Riesling 2019 (1x75cl)
BLANCK Auxerrois Vieilles vignes 2021 (1x75cl)
BLANCK Schlossberg Riesling Grand Cru 2018 (1x75cl)
Josmeyer Pinot Gris Le Fromenteau 2020 (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Gewurztraminer Vendange Tardive 2015 - Half Bottle (1x37.5cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Pinot Gris Réserve 2018 (1x75cl)
Schlumberger Riesling Grand Cru Saering 2021 (1x75cl)
Joseph Cattin Gewurztraminer 2021 (1x75cl)
Domaine Marcel Deiss Rotenberg Bergheim 2009 (1x75cl)
Domaine Marcel Deiss Gruenspiel Bergheim 2005 (1x75cl)
F E Trimbach Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives 2017 Alsace (1x75cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Grand Cru Hengst 2020 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Gewurztraminer 2022 (1x75cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Le Kottabe, Alsace AOC 2024 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Pinot Blanc 2023 (1x75cl)
Josmeyer Pinot Blanc Mise du Printemps, Alsace AOC 2024 (1x75cl)
Josmeyer Fleur de Lotus, Alsace AOC 2024 (1x75cl)
Josmeyer Pinot Auxerrois H Vieilles Vignes 2019 (1x75cl)
Maison Klipfel Sushi K 2019 Alsace (1x75cl)
Marcel Deiss Riesling 2015 (1x75cl)
Schlumberger Pinot Gris Grand Cru Kessler 2017 (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Grossi Laue Pinot Noir 2012 (1x75cl)
Domaine Bechtold Gew "Comme un rouge" 2019 (Skin Contact) (1x75cl)
M. Chapoutier Schieferkopf Lieu-dit Berg Riesling 2021 (1x75cl)
M. Chapoutier Schieferkopf Lieu-dit Buehl Riesling 2021 (1x75cl)
M. Chapoutier Schieferkopf Lieu-dit Fels Riesling 2021 (1x75cl)
Rene Mure, Clos Saint Landelin Pinot Noir 2022 (1x75cl)
Rene Mure, Clos Saint Landelin Pinot Noir 2022 1.5l (1x150cl)
Leon Beyer Riesling 2023 (1x75cl)
Leon Beyer Gewurztraminer 2021 (1x75cl)
Leon Beyer Pinot Gris 2022 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Émile 2009 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Émile 2018 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Émile 1.5L 2017 (1x150cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Pinot Gris Réserve Personnelle 1.5L 2016 (1x150cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Clos Ste. Hune 2016 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Clos Ste. Hune 2017 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Clos Ste. Hune 2018 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Clos Ste. Hune 2019 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Clos Ste. Hune 1.5L 2015 (1x150cl)
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