This white wine presents itself with a medium gold colour and a perfumed nose, characterised by tropical fruits like mango and ananas, sweet spices such as cinnamon and ginger, and rose petals. Once in the mouth, the wine gives a velvety sensation of opulence. Despite the low acidy, the mouth is left salivating and the pleasantly sweet aftertaste linger for quite a while.
Gewürztraminer is a pink-skinned grape variety that produces distinctive aromatic wines. It is closely related to the Savagnin Blanc grape, used in French Jura to make its unique Vin Jaune and called Heida in Swiss Valais.
The best examples of Gewürztraminer wines generally comes from the the Grand Cru vineyards of Alsace. Wines that I tend to prefer to the Gewürztraminers from northern Italy, which I generally find less rich in aromas and flavours.
Influenced by its history of disruption through political conflicts and wars, Alsatian wine production has not been developed as strongly as in other prestigious French regions. Nevertheless, Alsace is home to more than fifty Grand Cru vineyards, where outstanding Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat are made.
In its late harvest (vendage tardive) version, where the grapes are allowed to hang on the vine until they start to dehydrate, Gewürztraminer tends to give its best, thanks to the resulting concentration of aromas and flavours.
This example is produced by Domaine Gruss & Fils, a family run winery in the little town of Eguisheim, which in the past I had the pleasure of visiting a few times. Each time I visited I’ve been overwhelmed by the genuine hospitality of this Alsatian family.
I find a warm welcome one of the pleasures of visiting winery, an aspect that somehow adds flavour to the wine.
A similar dynamic also results from memories linked to specific bottles, like the Grand Crus Gewurztramine from Gruss I remember enjoying on my way out of North Korea in 2010. A bottle I shared with other travelers on board of the Russian train that took me to northern China.
This Gerwürtztraminer Vendages Tardives I got as a (solicited) present from my father, who went back to visit the winery in Eguisheim last year. At the winery it sells for 23.50 EUR.
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Grapes: Gewürtztraminer
Type: Sweet
Vintage: 2015
Producer: Domaine Gruss & Fils
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 4/5