Self Isolation : Day # 11

2011 Bechtold ‘Engelberg’ Grand Cru Gewürztraminer

Ah, Alsace. In this corner of north-eastern France, a narrow north-south strip of rolling vineyards is nestled between the peaks of the Vosge Mountains to the west and the Rhine River to the east. White wines reign supreme in this Franco-German region, achieving beautiful ripeness thanks to the rain shadow created by the mountains. Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat are the ‘noble’ varieties of the appellation are typically bottled as single varietal wines though some of the best producers in the region prefer to throw out the rule book and focus on blends (I’m looking at you Marcel Deiss). Gewüurztraminer (a.k.a. spiced Traminer, or the spicy grape fromTramin, Italy) can reach its pinnacle here: full-bodied, slightly oily in texture and with rich tropical and stone fruit notes complimented by spicy, phenolic accents and intense aromatics.

This bottling of Geürztraminer from Domaine Bechtold was grown in the Grand Cru rated Engelberg vineyard. Full-bodied with intense aromas of tropical fruits, citrus flesh, orchard blossom and white pepper. On the palate, mouth-coating ripe yellow peach and guava dominate and are accented by peppery, herbal notes that lead into a long, off-dry finish that is perfectly balanced by elevated acidity.