Brian
Grape Destemmer
Posts:76
 | | 03/02/2003 6:10 PM |
| The wife and I wound up in a little Indian restaurant last night. The wine list was sparse with four or five house wines offered by the glass. The one suggested for pairing with spicy cuisine was a California Gewurztraminer. We ordered it.
Now the wife supports my wine hobyy as it was her father who get the ball rolling, but her tastes and miine rarely coincide. Last night was an exception as we both enjoyed our first Gewurztraminer. Regrettably I forget to ask the waiter for the name of the wine (big error on my part, I know).
Can any one suggest a few QPR-type Gewurztraminers? Knowing that this style met with approval from the Mrs., can anyone suggest other varietals that might match her palate? Thanks to all who respond.
BKG | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1010
| | 03/02/2003 8:39 PM |
| The Martinelli seems to earn high praise. It's about $18.
I wish I could say I liked it.
I don't care for Gv much myself. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Stomper
Posts:196
| | 03/02/2003 9:25 PM |
| At the risk on starting a "Canadian wine" discussion, BC make a few good Gewurzs for very good prices. The Quail's Gate is a favorite of mine, selling for about $10US.
Gewurztraminer is one of the main grapes of the Alsace. Hugel is a big producer that's usually easy to find. He makes very pleasant (though not usually spectacular) typically correct wines at good prices.
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TCK
Barrel Filler
Posts:1279
| | 03/03/2003 12:18 AM |
| I will second the Martinelli, however it is difficult to find.
Gewurtztraminer is not a grape that gets a ton of USA attention. Your best bet is going to be an Alsacian. I also think there are some northern Itallian producers (Alto Adige maybe) that you could try.
If your looking for an American variety to go with spcicey food and is reasonably priced I would recomend Columbia Crest. This is an off dry rendition that will cool down those peppers.
If you really want to have fun go get a 2001 Kabinett Riesling in the German section. Almost anyone will do, but if the back label says "Imported by Terry Theise" your in business. When I think heat I think riesling, it is my favorite match for spicey food.
TCK | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 03/03/2003 2:54 AM |
| Go and get some Alsacian wine, dude. I love what they make over there.
But, I have had the Martinelli once and it was really wonderful stuff. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Fermenter
Posts:672
| | 03/03/2003 3:10 AM |
| TCK and TJ are right, the best Gewurz is made in Alsace. Any reputable producer will be fine (Trimbach, Hugel, Lorentz, Mann, etc.)
To follow up on TCK's note on Gewurz from Alto Adige in Italy, you may want to try the Elena Walch Gewurz from that region. It is very easy to drink and a very good QPR at around $12-$14.
Cheers,
Otis | | | |
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Wineaux
New Orleans, LA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1413
| | 03/03/2003 4:20 AM |
| | I'd add Weinbach's Cuvee Theo to those recommended by Oitsabdul. Typically $20-25 retail and scoring 90 +/- in WA over the last 3-4 vintages. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 03/03/2003 4:32 AM |
| | Martinelli makes the best dry Gewurtztraminer I've had from North America. De Loach makes a good Late Harvest Gewurtztraminer which is fairly sweet. Albert Mann's 2000 Grand Cru Furstentum Gewurtztraminer Veielles Vigne is a great (95 point) wine available in the $22-24 range. | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 03/07/2003 12:58 AM |
| | Renee Muree is another Alsace Producer I would recommend, especially with regard to Gewurzt. | | | |
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Brian
Grape Destemmer
Posts:76
| | 03/07/2003 6:50 PM |
| | We tried a Fetzer Echo Ridge which was very sweet but an easy drink. I was able to pick up the Columbia Crest, and, a Lawson's Riesling. Thanks for the ideas. Keep them coming please. | | | |
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Ken Bueckert
Grape Destemmer
Posts:93
| | 03/08/2003 6:40 AM |
| I too agree with the Alsatian rec's...
Along with the previously mentioned, add to the list Pierre Sparr and Pfaffenhiem, both cheaply priced.
Hugel and Albert Mann are both in the good QPR category, but if you want higher end try Zind Humbrecht (but you'll pay for it).
Good Luck. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1010
| | 03/09/2003 3:43 AM |
| If you are interested in the Martinelli, they have it at the winery at this time. I think they can ship to DC.
Here is a link:Martinelli
Do yourself a favor and pick up some G&L Zinfandel too. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 03/09/2003 1:13 PM |
| | tyee, you seem to feel Mann's wines aren't "high end." Some of them are. I have the 2000 Grand Cru Furstentum Gewurtztraminer Veielles Vignes which Parker scored a 95. Great QPR. I p[aid about $21 per boutielle. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15709
| | 03/09/2003 3:34 PM |
| I had the Martinelli '00 Gewurz last night and it was terrible. Now I'm not a big expert on what this stuff is supposed to taste like but... this stuff was flat and tasted of cardboard. I don't think it was corked because the nose wasn't bad; spring flowers and fresh mown hay, but the taste was very off-putting if not downright YECH! Brand new bottle just received from the Winery Wednesday.
Will open another bottle later this afternoon and get back. | | | |
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Joseph Bembry
Wine Lover
Posts:4857
| | 03/09/2003 3:36 PM |
| Cardboard usually indicates a corked bottle. I had this wine last fall and thought it was outstanding. 92pts. Hope it was just a bad bottle.
jb | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 03/09/2003 4:11 PM |
| | David, I think jb hit the nail on the head. I'll bet you had a corked bottle. I had this wine with jb, TJ, Freud, and ttepper, and I thought it was just about the best dry Gewurtztraminer I'd ever had. I hope you get to give it another try. | | | |
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dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2155
| | 03/09/2003 4:19 PM |
| I will second or third the Martinelli. We bought two bottles to fill out a case of PN Reserve and G&L Zin when were at the winery last year and now I wish I had bought more. My wife loves it and I think it is very good too.
If you want to try something else your wife may like, try a nice Viognier. We had a bottle of the 2001 Darioush last night with dinner and my wife loved it. I also turned my sister on to it a few weeks ago and she is constantly bugging me to suggest some for her to buy. | | | |
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Brian
Grape Destemmer
Posts:76
| | 03/09/2003 6:12 PM |
| GA-
Thanks for the Martinelli link. I hope DavidN's experience is the exception with this wine.
Dinwiddie-, the Viognier suggestion was a good one. We have a few and recently opened the Yalumba on wine store suggestion. I enjoyed more than Mrs. Feb15. Right now the Gewurtz is her favorite, but I'll keep at her until she tries them all!
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Ken Bueckert
Grape Destemmer
Posts:93
| | 03/09/2003 8:32 PM |
| Board-O
I don't think I said Albert Mann was not a top producer.
In my most humble opinion, Z-H's are consistently the best wines in Alsace that I get access to. They also happen to be the most expensive.
Albert Mann is thought to be one of the best QPR producers in Alsace, but that also makes them the most popular and the hardest to get here.
In some cases a Z-H is double the price of A. Mann here...thats' not to say Z-H is twice as good, it is believed by some/most that A-M is close if not equal in quality and that Z-H is no where near worth the price difference.
Alsace can be a little confusing when seeking out those great QPR's. When researching the region, I discovered:
There are presently 50 Grand Cru sites covering 8% of Alsace vineyards, but they only represent 4% of Alsace's total wine production.
Despite owning large tracts of Grand Cru vineyards, the leading merchant houses of Beyer, Trimbach and Hugel are most unwilling
to put vineyard names on their wines and don't market Grand Cru wines, preferring to emphasize their campanies reputations instead.
Add to this that Alsace is still in the steps to reorganize its classification system. The provisional list of Grand Cru sites were produced in 1983.
Currently, there is no intermediate level of quality between the 'Grand Cru' vineyards and the simple Alsace AC. Work is being done to establish a 'Premier Cru', and maybe even a 'Villages' classification between Grand Cru and AC.
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