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Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl
Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl was the wine chosen by Twitter poll last night over the Portuguese Dao (which I also opened but was far far less impressed with) for my Saturday night spent all by my lonesome with only the “blllurp” from the tweetdeck for company. *sob*
It was little wonder the Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl blew away the Portugese Dao as, at six times the price and from one of the most prominent producers in Alsace, had the little Dao come anywhere close I’d be jumping up and down and alerting you to a QPR doozy. Sadly not.
Today’s blog entry is simply a sum up of the wines I haven’t yet posted, a Super Sunday round up if you will. To stay in the Italian vein perhaps the best value of all was from Lagrein. Another dreaded Lagrein. Those familiar with this blog will know I am forever trying to find a place in my heart for Lagrein and end up panning it. Not this time, £10 from Virgin wines and Bobs your uncle. Not our Bob. Just the proverbial Bob.
However it was the Gewurztraminer that stole the show and is my wine of the week. This is a wine for a special occasion by one of the very best producers in Alsace, some might argue the best Gewurztraminer in the region too and would go great with a variety of styles of food. As Alsatian Gewurztraminer is high in acidity compared to other Gewurztraminers from other areas you would do well to pair this with moderately spicy Indian, Chinese or Thai food. Any of these will go much better than the sunflower seeds I nibbled on during my tasting.
Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl 2005 – BUY – €50
A dark golden yellow with green tinges. On the nose you could be tricked for thinking the wine was a young Sauternes. Aromatically intense with notes of lychee, apple, spices and cream. On the palate the wine is wonderfully smooth and elegant, concentrated and exciting. Great structure with a creamy sweetness. Thick and mouth coating, perfectly balanced, good acidity and a long finish. 94 Points
Quinta de Cabriz Dao 2005 – PASS – €8 (Portugal)
A dark deep ruby red to the rim, super nose of plums, dark fruit, coffee, raisins, blackcurrent and noted oak, spicy like a xmas pud. On the palate the wine is too acid, mid bodied and very extracted with the finish turning soft. Started well, faded too quickly. A real borderline BUY or PASS, get someone else to buy it for you. 84 Points
Castelfeder Lagrein 2006 – BUY – €12 (Italy)
Dark ruby red in the glass with a sweaty sock component on the nose, a beefy, savoury wine on the nose but turning to good fruit on the palate. Mid bodied, high acidity, high tannins but soft and rounded, plenty of dark fruits with a gorgeous dark chocolate note on the finish. Robust and varietally true, a good introduction to Lagrein. 87 Points
Domaine Potel Savigny les Beaune Vieilles Vignes 2004 – PASS – €25 (Burgundy)
Light garnet red. A giving nose of glazed cherries as well as a meaty, leathery note. On the palate light to mid bodied with high acidity and firm tannins with a floral flavour profile. Good length on the finish but for €25 I can’t recommend this wine. A wine for food. 86 Points
Frogs Leap Zinfandel 2005 – BUY – €25
Deep ruby red and all Zinfandel to the finish. Aromatically up for it, this wine is oozing vanilla, blackberries with a few wet rocks wrapped in smokey bacon. Full bodied on the palate with a concentrated blackberry and ripe back fruit flavour. Excellent balance and not over the top like so many Zins out there. Bio-dynamic producer. 90 Points
Where can I find this Wine?
Americans – Hart Davis Hart – $100
Europeans – The Wine Society – €50
Brits – The Wine Society – £44
Leave a Comment
Tried any of these wines? What was your wine of the week?
This really was not much of a competition the Zind Humbrecht wine is a classic. I am interested in the italian wine but do not have Virgin wines
GO,Frogs Leap!!! Now you have to find the Liebfrogmilch, somebody has imported it to the UK cuz I had it last year, one to look for. As for that zin, really packs a punch, doesn’t it! 😉
What a mixed bag.Envious of the 05 ZH, hard to lay my hands on any decent Alsace.