Domaine Weinbach Alsace Wine Tasting at Wine Watch

Wednesday, August 19, 2015 - 07:00 PM

This Event has been read: 2034 times.

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“As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of the wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and to make plans.”

? Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

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This is one of the benchmark producers in Alsace and this tasting is a study in one of the world's great wine producing regions with one of the greatest producers in this region.  I love these wines so much I have made this tasting an annual event!

Alsace produces some of the most profound white wines on the face of the earth. The wines from this storybook village can range from very average to very ethereal. Tonight we will be sampling wines from one of the greatest small producers of this region and one of the most unique because today, it is run by women.

Théo Faller, a prominent figure in Alsace winegrowing, strove to improve the quality of Alsace wines.  As a fervent advocate of the region's recognition as an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, he continuously promoted its incomparable terroirs and grape varieties.  Théo was devoted to Domaine Weinbach.  He developed, expanded and enhanced it.  Since his death in 1979, his wife Colette and daughters, have carried on Théo's passion for the great wines of Alsace and his unrelenting commitment to delivering excellence.  Last year, Laurence Faller, one of the most talented winemakers in Alsace died quite suddenly following a suspected heart attack at the ridiculously young age of 47.  We will raise a glass to one of Alsace’s great winemakers and celebrate these great wines.  As I always say; “Drink the Good Stuff First”- you never know when it’s your last glass!

Join us as we taste through the current releases from this landmark producer from Alsace. Wine Watch Catering's Toni Lampasone will serving up a few tasty treats to accompany the tasting wines. This is a sit down tasting and is limited to 14 tasters. The fee for this tasting is $45 per person all-inclusive for reservations call 954-523-9463. 

 

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Domaine Weinbach Tasting at Wine Watch
Wednesday, August 19th
7pm

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2013 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Personnelle Reserve
Price: $29.00                       Sale: $25.52
The Domaine's Riesling wines have a fine and delicate fruitiness, they are racy, nervy, dry but at the same time they are mature and long on the palate. Riesling is such a prestigious grape variety that it is considered as the king of Alsace wines. It holds a special place in our vineyards and in our hearts.

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2013 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvee Theo
Price: $36.00                       Sale: $31.68

Clos des Capucins. The Riesling Cuvée Théo is lively, it has body and finesse. It is lovely served with all kind of fish dishes.

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2013 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru 
Price: $46.25                       Sale: $40.70

Origins: the high part of the "grand cru" Schlossberg's hill. In a tense and very pure style, the Riesling Schlossberg tastes perfect with fish on the grill, oysters and other kinds of seafood, as well as with the traditional alsacian choucroute.

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2013 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Personnelle Reserve
Price: $37.50                       Sale: $33.00
               

With wonderful aromas of rose, gilly-flower, jasmine, spices, crystallized citrus fruit… with velvety bodies, they are sumptuous as an aperitif, with exotic food, smoked salmon or even with cheese, especially with French cheeses such as Munster or Roquefort. The taste of a particularly rich Gewurztraminer, a Grand Cru Furstentum or Late Harvest, is incomparable with a foie gras. It will be your taste buds' delight.

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2013 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Cuvee Theo
Price: $42.75                       Sale: $37.62

Origins: Clos des Capucins. The Gewurztraminer Cuvée Théo is fine, with a slight and elegant roundness, it is good with spicy dishes (curry, colombo) or exotic cuisine such as North African stew, smoked salmon (without lemon!)…

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2012 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Blanc Reserve
Price: $28.25    Sale: $24.86
Quantity in Stock: 3

Origins: Clos des Capucins and the marly limestone soil at the foot of the Altembourg. Soft and delicate, robust, it combines freshness and suppleness. Nice as an aperitif, it goes well with an onion tart, quiches and other light dishes made from fish or white meat.

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2012 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Cuvee Saint Catherine
Price: $54.00    Sale: $47.52
Quantity in Stock: 8

full bodied, with complex bouquets and a beautiful roundness. They are delicious with veal, escalope à la crème, risotto, lamb, chicken and all sorts of poultry. Very rich for the late vintages, Tokay Pinot Gris goes really well with foie gras.  The old vines of the Clos de Capucins. The Tokay Sainte Catherine has a nice power and a slight roundness, well balanced by a nice acidity.

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2011 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvee Theo
Price: $36.00    Sale: $31.68
Quantity in Stock: 3

Origins: Clos des Capucins. The Riesling Cuvée Théo is lively, it has body and finesse. It is lovely served with all kind of fish dishes.

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2011 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Cuvee Catherine
Price: $51.75    Sale: $45.54
Quantity in Stock: 5

They are full bodied, with complex bouquets and a beautiful roundness. They are delicious with veal, escalope à la crème, risotto, lamb, chicken and all sorts of poultry. Very rich for the late vintages, Tokay Pinot Gris goes really well with foie gras.  Origins: the old vines of the Clos de Capucins. The Tokay Sainte Catherine has a nice power and a slight roundness, well balanced by a nice acidity. It is wonderful combined with white meats en sauce, risottos, poultry such as geese, ducks, etc.

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2009 Domaine Weinbach Muscat Reserve
Price: $37.25    Sale: $32.78
Quantity in Stock: 8

(87 Points) The largely-Ottonel Weinbach 2009 Muscat d'Alsace Reserve smells of spruce needles, oregano, elder flower, and apricot. Faint bitterness not only inherent in this variety but also common in this vintage (for example, in the corresponding Pinot Blanc) serves for cut and invigorating counterpoint in an otherwise softly-textured as well as unusually voluminous and low-acid exemplar of its genre; and there is enough primary juiciness as well as a streak of salinity to render the finish quite mouthwatering. eRobertParker.com #194, May 2011

 

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2009 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Cuvee Theo
Price: $37.50    Sale: $33.00
Quantity in Stock: 12

Origins: Clos des Capucins. The Gewurztraminer Cuvee Theo is fine, with a slight and elegant roundness, it is good with spicy dishes (curry, colombo) or exotic cuisine such as North African stew, smoked salmon (without lemon!)

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Menu

Selection of Cheese; Chevre, St. Andre and Blue Cheese Pickled vegetables

Chicken Sausage open face burger with Sauerkraut, spicy mustard and pickled onions served on a Bagel Crisp

Foie Gras and Pork Belly Terrine with Sweet mustard Cornichon drizzle served on a plum and apricot salsa

 

 

A bit about Domaine Weinbach:

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This fairy tale wine producing region has a history that is somewhat violent and tragic.  The citizens here have been traded back and forth between the Germans and the French until after world war II, when they finally ended up on the French side.  The first mention of a form of the name Alsace occurs in the time of the Frankish and Merovingian kings when it was termed Alesia.  This is thought to have been derived from Alisa, or from a combination of ‘ill’ from the river, and Sass, old German for ‘resident’.  In medieval times the wine was known in England and the Low Countries as Aussey.

 

The sorted history of this area as well as the unique climate and soil types here make the wines coming from this region truly unique.  The Rhine basin is confined on one side by the Vosges and on the other by the hills of the Black Forest.  Both these ridges are comprised of either granite or gres rouge, a very compact red sandstone, you will see this used in the local buildings.  Millions of years ago, when these alps were formed, a violet quake caused the Alps to rise above the surrounding waters, the black forest and the Vosges chains rose as well, leaving a fault between them.  This fault remained flooded, and also saw further erosion as glaciers came and went over the following years.  This resulted in a soil structure which is as varied and complex as you will find anywhere.  You could probably find a sample of practically every type of soil known to man here in Alsace; clay, limestone, sand, gravel, chalk, marl and loess , there is granite at Turckeim and Wintzenheim, yellow loam at Guebwiller and rich in fossils at Eguisheim and Barr.

 

The vineyards in this tiny, yet important wine producing region are even more fragmented in ownership than those of the rest of France. With over 9,000 growers sharing a total of 30,000 acres, the average individual holding is just over three acres.  It is rare that even the larger more established estates here are larger than 100 acres.  The Faller brothers got into the wine business here in 1885.  They purchased 62 acres of monastic land, the Clos de Capucins.  Located in the picturesque village of Kayserberg, they became a family of growers rather than a negociant (someone who purchases fruit and wine to bottle under their own label).  The Faullers quickly became known as one of the most respected names in all of Alsace.  The grandson of these men, Theo Faller was a man of uncompromising taste and would stop at nothing to produce the best possible wines.  Upon his death, his wife madame Colette Faller took over the day-to-day operations and the passion that Theo ran this estate with.  In a country that boasts some extraordinary women winemakers today (Madame Gros of Domaine Jean Gros, Lalou Bize-Leroy of the Domaine Leroy, madame Ferret of Pouilly-Fuisse, Dany Rolland, wife of Michel Rolland and a famed enologist in her own right, and Christine Fabre of Chateau Troplong-Mondot), Colette stands out among these women for the sheer force of her personality and extraordinary elegance.  Madame Colette Faller, believes that without risk there is no reward, she harvests extremely late when she has to, risking the entire production if all does not go as planned, however the rewards of patience are usually great.

Their most sought after wines come from the monopole vineyard, Clos des Capucins.  This 12.5 acre vineyard produces both Tokay and Riesling of profound proportions (the Grains Nobles wines are incredible and impossible to find).  They grow all of the traditional Alsacian varietals here, from Pinot Blanc, to their cuvees of Riesling (there are usually four, Reserve Personelle, Schlossberg, Cuvee Theo and Clos Ste. Catherine).  Faller makes spectacular Pinot Gris and a number of Gewurztraminers that are rivaled only by those of Leonard Humbrecht.  Her best two Gewurztraminers are consistently the exotic, honeyed Cuvee Theo and the rose-scented Reserve Personelle.  In certain vintages there is also an off-dry, dense, chewy, lychee nut-scented and flavored Cuvee Laurence.  In addition to the Grains Noble wines they make a few “vendange tardive” (late harvest) wines from Tokay and Gewurztraminer

 

 

Other wines from Alsace in the store

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1998 Domaine Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal Selection De Grains Nobles
Price: $225.00    Sale Price: $170.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

 

2005 Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve Alsace
Price: $26.75       Sale $23.54
Quantity in Stock: 6

(89 Points) The Trimbach 2005 Pinot Gris Reserve smells of peaches, brown spices, smoked meat, and musk. Creamy on the palate, yet juicy and refreshing, with striking clarity of ripe peach and musk melon supported by nine grams of residual sugar yet with scarcely a noticeable hint of sweetness in a finish dominated by smoked meat and salty, chalky minerality.

The Trimbach family continues to render some of the world’s finest Riesling; to uphold the principle that wine of Alsace (unless V.T.) should not taste sweet; to release wines only when they believe those wines say “it’s timeâ€; and to ship 40,000 cases (or 40% of their production) to the United States. Notable developments on the occasion of my recent visit were the enhanced quality of their reserve level wines as well as outstanding performances with Pinot Gris. The wines on which I report below include some of those currently in the marketplace or about to appear, but most of the 2004s and 2005s will not be released for 1-3 more years. By the time early October rains struck in 2005, the team here had harvested everything other than their top Riesling. Yet, even though some of their most striking successes were picked unusually early, the upper-tier Rieslings here seem to have suffered neither dilution nor obscurant botrytis. The Trimbachs clearly rolled with any punches nature administered in 2004 (although by the time they harvested, abundant initial bunches had morphed into low yields), delivering Riesling of startling clarity and concentration that showcases its minerality and acidity. But in view of so much negative rot, they declined to attempt any nobly sweet selections.Wine Advocate # 175 Feb 2008

 

2005 Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve Alsace
Price: $22.50       Sale $19.80
Quantity in Stock: 7

 

2007 Domaine Ostertag Fronholz Pinot Gris Alsace
Price: $51.25       Sale Price: $35.50
Quantity in Stock: 9

(91 Points) Effusively musky, carnal, decadently floral (narcissus and faded lily) as well as peachy scents in the Ostertag 2007 Pinot Gris Fronholz are followed by a palate of subtle oiliness, imposing richness, and ripe peach succulence, supported by the subtle sweetening effect of high glycerin (in a wine of already well over 14% alcohol) and 12 grams of residual sugar that are utterly discreet. Yet, in the manner of the best Pinot Gris of its vintage, this retains lovely freshness, vivacity, and primary juiciness. Nut paste; spiced pear and peach; and musky liquid floral perfume linger on the palate as well as in the empty glass. This should remain a treat for at least 6-8 years, though one should monitor it thereafter for signs of alcoholic heat. Ostertag uses mostly older barrels for Fronholz as he thinks it’s cool, sometimes “ as in 2007 “ Riesling-like personality is temperamentally opposed to flavors of oak.

Andre Ostertag was like most of his region’s best growers very selective about what he chose to bottle in 2006. He is especially enthusiastic about his uncompromisingly intense 2007s and the sense in which the Rieslings resemble a throwback to the moderate must weights and refreshing acidity that was common in Alsace before the string of warm vintages that has been nearly uninterrupted since 1988. I was surprised to find myself as impresses as I was with the 2007 Pinot Gris bottlings here, but Ostertag says it was simply unfair until very recently to compare his results with that grape to those with Riesling, because the vines of the former were too young. They’ve passed 20 years of age now, and that, he opines, is why they can start to show their real potential (and, I would add, stand up to Ostertag’s use of barriques). While I hate to take up space with this matter, readers should be aware that wines from this estate that formerly bore the village name Epfig will now merely be coded with the capital letter because of certain limitations that the authorities have now imposed on the use of village designates and the definition of village level names. (Frankly, I wouldn’t even want to understand the regulation if I thought it would prove intelligible!) eRobertParker.com # 188 Apr 2010

 

2011 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Cuvee Catherine
List Price: $51.75               Sale $45.54
Quantity in Stock: 5

They are full bodied, with complex bouquets and a beautiful roundness. They are delicious with veal, escalope à la crème, risotto, lamb, chicken and all sorts of poultry. Very rich for the late vintages, Tokay Pinot Gris goes really well with foie gras.  Origins: the old vines of the Clos de Capucins. The Tokay Sainte Catherine has a nice power and a slight roundness, well balanced by a nice acidity. It is wonderful combined with white meats en sauce, risottos, poultry such as geese, ducks, etc.

 

2003 Domaine Ostertag Pinot Gris Zellberg Alsace
List Price: $50.50               Sale Price: $44.44
Quantity in Stock: 3

White peach and Asian pear fruit highlighted by notes of lime blossoms, and fresh stone minerality on the nose. Focused and intense minerality on the palate with crisp acidity holding the rich and ripe stone fruit together with excellent intensity and balance through the finish, zesty with a host of mineral notes to the end. Finish 45+ MOST EXCELLENT

2011 Domaine Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl
Price: $90.00       Sale $79.20
Quantity in Stock: 11

This is a single vineyard wines, they do not have premier cru here in Alsace this wine has a pretty bouquet that is classic spicy grape, lavender, hibiscus flower, very perfumed and floral with gorgeous peach, lychee nut and white pepper spice. Rich and decadent on the tongue with sweet juicy fruit, tongue tingly acidity and that floral perfumed nuance from the nose through the finish, hints of white pepper spice, wonderful balance despite the residual here must be high, very rich. Finish 45+ Excellent +

 

2007 Marcel Deiss Grasberg Alsace
Price: $42.50       Your Price: $37.20
Quantity in Stock: 20

(94 Points)  From inter alia Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Savagnin Rose in a high-altitude, austerely chalky, north-facing site, the Deiss 2007 Grasberg displays hauntingly floral aromas suggestive of rose, gentian, linden, and rowan, along with brown spices that migrate to a palate juicy with fresh apricot and yellow plum, and suffused with marine, sweet-savory, scallop-like mineral richness. Persistently wafting florals follow on a finish that offers a remarkable colloquy with mineral and pit fruit essences. I’m reminded a bit here of a really exotic vintage of Chablis Preuses (like 2006). This, I predict, is going to have exceptional, perhaps 20 year aging potential. I had chance to taste the late-harvested 2008 Grasberg must just as it was beginning to ferment, and the level of complexity and recognizable site character was uncanny.

Jean-Michel Deiss has been officially tasked with assisting his fellow Alsace growers in the drafting of new regional regulations and labeling conventions, in keeping with both France’s proposed move to a higher-order French appellation “d’Origine Protegee” and with the potential regional autonomy provided for (if inchoately) by recent EU legislation. As readers can imagine, Deiss’s vision involves a drastically diminished scope and roll for varietal bottling, analogous to his conception of Alsace crus as being best expressed by a blending of multiple cepages. (For more on the evolution of Deiss’s approach, consult my report in issue 175). Two things are indubitable: Alsace could use fresh approaches to labeling and marketing; and any Deiss proposal will have been thought-through all the way down to its historical and metaphysical levels. Deiss’s own line and labeling have been further simplified: beginning with 2006 his lower tier of wines is being bottled without village designations, leaving him more flexibility in blending. Although Deiss did not bottle a full compliment of his crus from the rot-challenged 2006 vintage, he said he was loath to pull back by settling his musts more aggressively of bottling earlier, “because the lees are the megaphone for the terroir.” Fair enough in principle, but the results were to say the least decidedly mixed, whereas Deiss’s 2007s represent a resounding success. (Deiss did not show me his lower-tier 2006s and I did not have chance to ferret any of them out from the marketplace.)  eRobertParker.com #188, Apr 2010

 

2012 Zind Humbrecht Zind White blend Alsace
Price: $32.25       Your Price: $28.38
Quantity in Stock: 9

We started to blend and separately bottle the Chardonnay (65%) and the Auxerrois (35%) from the Clos Windsbuhl vineyard in 2004 when we believed the vines to be old enough to produce a certain quality (15 years old). Unfortunately (or funnily) the presence of the Chardonnay is the reason why we are obliged to declassify this wine to the Vin de Table category, despite the fact that this vineyard is one of our top sites. In 2012, the grapes harvested were very healthy with a nice acidity. Due to a structural problem, cask 51 (105hl) needed to be replaced with a new cask and the Zind 2012 was the obvious choice for the first wine in this cask. Being the first wine, the cask did not contain any yeasts from previous vintages and explains perhaps partly why the 2012 kept a little more residual sweetness than expected.  The new foudre (large old oval oak cask) influence is negligible and only a very sharp taster would be able to detect its presence. The light toasty aromas combine with herbal and white fruit, light smokiness and chalk on the nose. The palate is very elegant and shows little of the sweetness. I did rate this wine indice 1 for a long time before I saw the analysis! Long finish that feels dry but so easy to drink, already today.

 

2013 Domiane Zind Humbrecht Riesling Alsace
Price: $26.25       Your Price: $23.10
Quantity in Stock: 9

In 2013, after the early August hailstorms, we decided to blend all the vineyards from the Herrenweg into this varietal Riesling. The Herrenweg is an early ripening gravelly valley floor vineyard that enjoys long sunshine hours. The hail was early enough so the grapes could heal but the stress delayed the ripeness and explains the lower alcohol level. For once we didn’t have to worry about harvesting grapes too high in potential alcohol! The grapes were harvested very healthy and the fermentation went easily to the end.  Tasting Notes : 3/2015: the nose has a delicate fruity profile, showing citrus fruits and some exotic aromas. The palate is light and elegant, with crystalline structure. The wine tastes dry with an excellent acidity and without any sharpness. It is a very easy drinking wine and a perfect representation of a fresh Riesling

 

2012 Furst Gewurztraminer Alsace
Price: $22.50       Your Price: $19.80
Quantity in Stock: 7