François Baur Crémant d’Alsace Brut Réserve NV
A winsome blend of Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris that sees 12 months aging sur lie the François Baur Crémant d’Alsace Brut Réserve is pale straw with aromas of baked apple and rustic peach pie, with a top note of dried mint. The attack boasts high acidity carving a wide swath through orchard […]
Hugel Riesling Alsace 2013
Hugel is always solid, and reasonably priced. It was my pleasure to taste this gem at a Wines of Alsace dinner in Portland. White flowers, white peaches and a quaint dab of kerosene, this is classic Alsatian Riesling. It boasts a “straight backbone”, as our dinner host Thierry Fritsch described it, inlaid with stone fruit, […]
Domaine Weinbach Gewürztraminer Alsace Grand Cru Mambourg Vendanges Tardives 2013
A stunner of a Vendanges Tardives, certainly not as unctuous as a Sauternes, the Weinbach Alsace Grand Cru Mambourg offers that rare combination of power and delicacy, tenderness and concentration. On the nose, apricot and white peach notes are cradled in orange blossom, granulated honey and spice. On the palate, supple creaminess, and lots of […]
Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Saering 2011
A delicious Grand Cru Alsatian Riesling from Schlumberger. The Saering 2011 is fine-tuned and surprisingly powerful. Grown in marl-limestone-sandstone soils, where vine roots burrow deep, the countenance of this wine one of white peaches and lemon curd, complicated by a pretty, herbaceous veneer. On the palate, it’s lush and creamy, with decadent layers of orchard […]
Domaine Ostertag Vin D’Alsace Fronholz Pinot Gris 2013
Wine of the night, tasted at a recent Wines of Alsace media dinner. If ever there was an example of a pitch-perfect Pinot Gris, surely it is this, the 2013 Ostertag Vin D’Alsace Fronholz, a lively dance of lanolin, honey, quince, dewy pear, fruit and stony minerality. In the mouth, it’s fresh with a kind […]
Paul & Phillippe Zinck Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé NV
This charming Cramant d’Alsace from Domaine Zinck is graced with an abundantly pretty and welcoming nose of pie cherries, wet stones, and cinnamon bark. It’s a delicate salmon pink, with an equally delicate mousse. Subtle blood orange-tinged sweetness is dominated by a profoundly minerally texture—oyster shells, limestone, and chalk lend complexity to a mouthwatering finish. […]
Domaine Saint-Remy Crémant d’Alsace Cuvée Prestige NV
The color of sun-bleached straw, the Crémant D Alsace Cuvée Prestige from Domaine Saint-Remy is crafted from 100% biodynamically farmed Chardonnay that is grown in granite-rich soil, in the lieu-dit of St. Gregoir. It emits fresh, lively aromas of biscuit, Meyer lemon zest, granulated honey and trail dust. The palate is light and nimble, with […]
Willm Crémant d’Alsace Blanc de Noirs NV
Crafted from 100% Pinot Noir, this charming Crémant d’Alsace is the color of wheat fields at the height of summer. Pert bubbles and aromas of apple galette, quince and clementine. While not overly complex on the palate, it is clean and crisp, with bright acidity and lilting bubbles. A cheerful disposition and an excellent value […]
Meyer-Fonné Crémant d’Alsace Brut Extra NV
A charming blend of 60% Pinot Auxerrois, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Blanc, and 5% Pinot Noir. The Meyer-Fonné Crémant d’Alsace Brut Extra sees only a minimal dosage and sports an autolytic nose of biscuit, apples and lilting white flowers. On the palate, a very fine, delicate mousse is bolstered by moderate acidity and subtle creaminess. […]
Chicken au Champagne with Crémant d’Alsace
While the original recipe for Chicken au Champagne calls for Brut Champagne, this dish is certainly versatile enough to partner with a less pricey option like a Crémant. In this case, I used the Willm Crémant d’Alsace Blanc de Noirs and I particularly enjoyed how relatively easy this meal is to prepare, making it a satisfying weeknight […]