Alsatians

[russ parsons]

I'm putting together a mini-tasting of whites from alsace and i'm trying to get past the "usual suspects." i know zind-humbrecht, hugel, trimbach. i'm hoping to get some weinbach, schlumberger, deiss, beyer, josmeyer... is there anybody i'm mising?

[Craig Camp]

Marc Kreydenweiss, Bott Freres, Bott-Geyl, Albert Mann, Domaine Ostertag, Schoffit, Kuentz-Bas, Jerome Geschickt, Rene Mure...among others

There is a lot of good wine in Alsace.

[Sandra Levine]

Rolly-Gassmann

[scamhi]

List from Tastings.com

PREMIER PRODUCERS

• Leon Beyer:

Comtes d'Eguisheim

• Josmeyer:

L'Exception

• Albert Mann

• Domaine Ostertag

  • Schoffit

• Trimbach:

Clos Ste. Hune

• Domaine Weinbach

• Zind Humbrecht

GREAT PRODUCERS

• Lucien Albrecht

• Francois Baur

• Jean Becker

• Leon Beyer

• Boeckel

• Bott Freres

• Bott-Geyl

• Marcel Deiss

• Dopff

• Jerome Geschickt

• Hartweg

• Hugel

• Josmeyer

• Cave Vinicole de Kientzheim-Kayersberg

  • Marc Kreydenweiss

• Kuentz-Bas

• Gustave Lorentz

• Arthur Metz

• Julien Meyer

• Rene Mure

• Pfaffenheim

• Riefle

• Francois Schwach

• Schlegel Boeglin

• Schlumberger

• Pierre Sparr

• Trimbach

DEPENDABLE PRODUCERS

• Domaine Barmes Buecher

• Charles Baur

• Jean-Pierre Bechtold

• Bennwihr

• Jean-Marc Bernhard

• Bestheim

• Fleith

  • Clos du Letzenberg

• Mader

• Les Viticulteurs Reunis a Sigolsheim

• Scherer

• Charles Schleret

[Craig Camp]

How can Rolly Gassmann NOT be on the Tastings list?????

[Boris_A]

Domaine Albert Boxler does a very fine job.

[balex]

I have been a big fan of Ostertag in the past.

[jackal10]

I'd also support Rolly Gassmann: big wines.

I'd add Heywang

Cave Vinicole de Turckheim

[Mark Sommelier]

Let me add 3 small producers:

Marc Tempé

Domaine Kientzler

Domaine Martin Schaetzel

I am also partial to Boxler, Weinbach, Josmeyer and Z-H.

[KatieLoeb]

A second from me on the Domaine Barmes-Buecher. And Ostertag had a Gewurztraminer last vintage out that was to die for. I don't see it in my current portfolio from the vendor, but that might just mean that particular wine didn't make it to Pennsylvania this time around. It was textboook Gewurz - floral and fruity. All rose guest soap and canned lychee nuts. I wasn't sure whether to drink it or dab it behind my ears. I think I ended up drinking it!

[eat2much]

  And Ostertag had a Gewurztraminer last vintage out that was to die for.  I don't see it in my current portfolio from the vendor, but that might just mean that particular wine didn't make it to Pennsylvania this time around.  It was textboook Gewurz - floral and fruity.  All rose guest soap and canned lychee nuts.  I wasn't sure whether to drink it or dab it behind my ears.   I think I ended up drinking it!

I assume you mean the late vintage selection de grains nobles? I still have a bottle or 2...sex in a glass!

[Brad Ballinger]

Since it is a "mini tasting" you won't be able to cover everyone that's been receommended here. I'd stick to some producers that are easy for people to find, but throw in an obscure one or two. I'd also look for diverse styles.

Trimbach is pretty elegant, quintessential, and focuses on balance.

ZH has been pushing the envelope and going over the top too much for my tastes, but lots of people like the wines.

Deiss can make some smoky wines, and he's been a bit controversial with his vineyard designate wines that have blends of grapes rather than single variety from a single vineyard.

Marc Kreydenweiss is from the Bas Rhin (just about everyone else is from the Haut Rhin) and has taken off in the US in very recent years.

Josmeyer is organic.

And I can't believe no one listed Ernest Burn, who rules the Goldert cru.

[Boris_A]

Deiss can make some smoky wines, and he's been a bit controversial with his vineyard designate wines that have blends of grapes rather than single variety from a single vineyard.

Exactly. His "Grand Vin" series are coming from a "complantation" = several varieties (Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinto Gris) from a single vineyard harvested (!) and vinified together from the beginning. So it's not an "assemblage" (blend).

He claims this was the common vinification method in Alsace before the variety thing started some time ago. I found the wines irregular in characteristic from vintage to vintage , but mostly excellent and really great wines.

It's a remarkable and absolutely unique way of vinification, as far as I know.

[jackal10]

Rolly Gassmanns's Edelzwicker "Terroir des Chateux Forts" I believe is also a run-of-vinyard wine, and very good too.

[Brad Ballinger]

So it's not an "assemblage" (blend).

Right. I should've used the term field blend, which would've been more descriptive.

[russ parsons]

i want to thank everyone for their advice on wines to include in the tasting. the story ran yesterday and is up on the website. be aware, it was intended for the general reader, not the specialist, and i only included wines i could actually buy in southern california. and before i stop making excuses: yes, i know clos st. hune belongs to trimbach. apparently, while i was away my fingers forgot. it will be corrected.

[bleachboy]

What website? URL, please... Thanks.

[russ parsons]

sorry, assuming too much. the la times website.

la times food section

[bleachboy]

Excellent article! Sorry I didn't know who you were -- I'm stranded in Nashville.