Alsace, the quaint, scenic and too-often war-torn region where France meets Germany along the Rhine River, is the topic for our Wine Focus for March.
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Alsace is probably best known for its Rieslings, but Gewürztraminer is iconic, too; and Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir also turn up in forms that often show a characteristic Alsatian accent.
Look for Alsace in your local wine shop. It probably won’t be the most prominent shelf, but you should be able to find some. It can be a frustrating quest, though. I was really disappointed to find only two selections from Alsace at a local wine shop known for its selection: A fancy Riesling that boasted a 90-plus rating from the rating people, at a $50 price tag to match; and the tasty but somewhat overpriced Trimbach 2013 Alsace Riesling that I report on below.
Stretching the bottle over two nights made it marginally worthwhile, but I’ve got to ask: Who in the heck is drinking up all the Alsatian wine?
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Today’s Tasting Report
Trimbach 2013 Alsace Pinot Blanc ($18.99)
This is a clear, straw color wine, showing just a touch of a greenish hue. Fresh, simple and appealing white fruit aromas offer gentle suggestions of pear and apple plus a distinct hint of musky melon. Flavors follow the nose with medium-bodied texture. It’s fresh and bright, 12.5% alcohol; fruit balanced by cleansing acidity, adding an intriguing sense of subtle minerality in a long finish. U.S. importer: Esprit du Vin, Boca Raton, Fla. (March 4, 2016)
FOOD MATCH: The back label rather generally suggests, “Perfect with seafood, salads, fish, any light meal or on its own.” We enjoyed it one night with an asparagus risotto, and the following evening with a chopped spinach and Parmigiano sauce over farfalle pasta.
WHEN TO DRINK: It’s not intended as a long-term keeper, but the producer suggests a shelf life of at least five years after the vintage, and its good balance – plus the sturdy, modern metal screw cap – offer no reason to doubt this.
VALUE: My local price is disappointingly high, a full $5 above the $14 U.S. retail reported by Wine-Searcher.com. It’s a good wine, but I can’t really recommend it for value in the upper teens. If you want it, shop around, and buy online if you can’t find a better local price.
WEB LINK
A QR code on the back label directs you to the winery website, where you can work your way down to this English-language page featuring the Trimbach portfolio. Page down from there to find details on the Pinot Blanc.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Trimbach Alsace Pinot Blanc on Wine-Searcher.com.
For an international list of Trimbach’s importers, check this page on the Trimbach website.
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