A creamy textured and warmly complex Alsatian Pinot Gris from the French side of the Rhine valley This example from Domaines Schlumberger is from their 'Prince Abbes' which they like to think of as being their '2nd wines' in Bordeaux terms. Most of the fruit comes from their Schimberg vineyards. It's a wine that successfully pulls off the elusive trick of being rich and intense yet refreshing, with incredible finesse all at the same time. It also has satisfying hints of spice, honeyed citrus and lychee leading up to the weighty finish. It's certainly a pedigree wine from an acknowledged expeert producer.

Possibly the best value expression of Gewurztraminer in the world. Simply beautiful.

Guide Hachette 2020 edition "A beautiful expression of the vintage with these late harvests combining power and elegance. Flattering and fresh, the nose combines peach and candied citrus fruits - tangerine and orange zest. We find the yellow fruit in the intense, generous, rich and persistent palate, toned on the finish by a frank liveliness and a touch of bitterness. Delicacy and character. (Residual sugar: 80 g / l.)"

Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. They all carry the signature of Rolly-Gassmann, a certain shameless, velvety sweetness. The fruit is rich and manages to balance the fruit with a vibrant acidity to form wines that melt on the palate.

Grapes for this Pinot Gris were sourced from selected small plots in the Hunawihr vineyards, which lie at an altitude of 250-300 metres above sea level. On the palate, elegant flavours of pear are supported with a subtle smokiness.

A classic dry estate Riesling from Olivier Humbrecht. Mineral and taut to start off with, this wine really opens up in the glass. Fresh, floral, peachy, exciting.

Lovely complex nose, with notes of exotic fruits (lychee, mango) and white pepper. The mouth is full and very long. This is a wine with good freshness from lingering acidity balanced with a touch of residual sugar on the finish.

Sheltered from oceanic influence by the Vosges Mountains, the Alsace wine region enjoys practically the lowest rainfall in France (only 400-500mm per year) and is blessed with a semi-continental climate, sunny, hotand dry. These optimal weather conditions, along with a nice and cool fall season, allow the grapes to ripen slowly and to develop an amazing complexity of aromas.

Located in Alsace’s Haut-Rhin village of Rorschwihr, near Ribeauvillé, lies the family Domaine of Rolly-Gassmann, whose roots date back to 1661. Their Terroir des Chateau Forts is made from a blend of biodynamically grown grapes, namely Auxerrois, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris. Aromatic and rich, it displays aromas of pear, melons, peaches and lychee. Complex on the palate with delicate rose flavours underpinned by lychee fruit and balancing acidity.

An unusual, but terrific, blend showing the spiciness of Gewurz; the grapiness of Muscat; the body of Pinot Gris; the backbone of Riesling; and the refreshing character of Sylvaner. The resulting wine is fresh and characterful. Vegan

Without a doubt one of the most remarkable Gewurztraminer's in production today. None of that sickly, confected, Turkish delight aromas here. This wine is pure, focussed, driven, and mineral with an intense finish reminiscent of freshly spat out lychee stones. Phenomenal.

17gr residual sugar. Good depth of flavour on the palate. Savoury and bready with a touch of sweet spice. Perhaps a little confected on the fruit. This would certainly be a versatile food wine. Good structure, savoury finish.

Fruit from Goldert Grand Cru. Not the typical overt Gewurztraminer style on the nose but the fruit absolutely explodes on the front palate. It’s forward and tropical but then there is some pleasing smokiness and reserve on finish. Totally different. Vibrant, varied, and flamboyant.

The soils of Goldert Grand Cru and Jurassic limestone marl, the same as in southern Jura. This is a stunning wine. Floral, pretty, aromas at first, then a hint of peach yoghurt, and a final menthol, eucalyptus whiff. On the palate alongside these explosive flavours there is some charming toastiness and salinity. This salinity goes hand in hand with the acidity to create a wine of precision and balance. The Goldert Muscat has remarkable ageing potential. We were lucky enough to taste the 1964 at the winery. An intriguing, dry, salty wine, but charming all the same. The nose was complex with petrol-like characters, wormwood, orange pith, polish, camphor, and sweet spice. The palate was bone dry, and though the fruit had faded, the wine still had great persistence with a gentle acidity swathe of acidity running all the way through. Tasted at the Domaine March 2020, AA

Heavy soils of Oligocen and limestone marl with a high lime and iron content. Steep south and west facing vineyard. This vineyard was planted just before the estate’s conversion to biodynamics which has caused headaches since with planting style. Clean, herbal, citrus, lime, grapefruit, and bitter orange aromas. Powdery, chalky texture on the palate. Super high acidity. Citrus dominant palate; lime and grapefruit. Long. Persistent. Tasted at the Domaine March 2020, AA

Tasted at the Domaine March 2020 "Slight rosiness to the colour. A very different wine. Meaty, savoury aromas. A broad, fleshy palate, yet precise with no oiliness. It’s almost beyond any Pinot Gris I’ve ever tasted. A touch of florality on the finish brings the wine back in to line. Refreshing and foody." AA

One of the best of Alsatian dry Muscats. Deftly crafted, lifted, lilies and blossom. Impressively concentrated and ripe, but so fine, so delicate.

The nose is fresh with a little crisp apple and hints of apricot and yellow plum. The typically high acidity pairs well with the residual sugars and the flavours following from the nose. The finish is dry and dominated by elegant hints of apricot.

Some citrus, pear and white flowers perfumes develop on the nose. The rich aromas continue through the mid-palate. A long lasting wine, with a refreshing finish. Very versatile wine for a range of fish, chicken and salad dishes.

Rangen de Thann is one of the most Southerly vineyards of Alsace. Volcanic soils, and vertiginous slopes. This site is so difficult to work it requires that estate to employ four full time staff for just 5.5ha! This wine fermented to full dryness in just 3 weeks. No MLF. Elegant, floral, charming. Savoury, smoky, bright. Hot, and dormant.

Rangen de Thann is one of the most Southerly vineyards of Alsace. Volcanic soils, and vertiginous slopes. This site is so difficult to work it requires that estate to employ four full time staff for just 5.5ha! "Very closed. Smoky, lees-y, saline. The fruit is very reserved right now and lacks some density. There’s texture, tannin, and heat. These vines produce very small, tiny berries giving a greater ratio skin to pulp, hence the sensation of tannin on the palate. This wine is all structure at the moment." Tasted at the Domaine, March 2020 (AA)

"Pink granite soils. Rich and spicy wine. There’s bright florality, then some bitter fruit, pithy citrus, apple skin, kumquat, and quince. Elegant and long with great concentration and wonderfully balanced acidty. Charming and focussed." Tasting at the Domaine, March 2020 (AA)

Planted 1972-4. 1.2ha just below Hengst Grand Cru. Touch of bottle shock. Broader, more concentrated aromatics. Slightly savoury spice and musky flowers. Rather like a Gruner Veltliner. Saline and savoury on the palate, but with some plump fruit too (8.2g/l RS). The fruit concentration seems to be in a crescendo. Brooding. Tasted at the Domaine, March 2020 (AA)

As the name indicates, all the vineyards are located on the poor granitic soils of the Brand hillside. It is in fact the second wine of the Grand Cru Brand. These precocious and warm granitic soils produce wines that have a vertical structure, always expressive at a young age and never shy on their aromatic potential. Tasted at the Domaine March 2020: "Fruit from Brand Grand Cru. Pretty much a declassified second wine. Soils here are biotype pink granite. This wine comes from seven parcels: two planted 1947-49, three planted in the early 1980s, and two planted about 20yrs ago under biodynamics. New release. It seems like there’s a bit of bottle shock here. It’s rather muted at the moment. There is some fleshier fruit on the palate, and it is absolutely bone dry. Bitter fruits. Pithy. Smoky finish. ." AA

The estate is seeing a dry Pinot Gris renaissance at the moment - terroir driven, versatile wines, but not as high acidity or ‘intellectual’ as Riesling. The Roche range really does represent remarkable value. The fruit for the Roche Calcaire wines comes from young vines in Clos Windsbuhl. But at Zind Humbrecht when they say ‘young vines’ what they mean is an average age of 35-40yo vines, rather than 85-90yo! In many other regions this wine would be classed Vieilles Vignes! Only just released, this Pinot Gris was quite closed when we tasted it. Pinot Gris ferments quickly making reduction more likely. There are notes of bitter almond and apple skin. On the palate the wine is fleshy, with an fine underlying acid structure. At the moment it may seem a little austere and difficult, but this wine still has a long way to go. Tasted at the Domaine, March 2020 (AA)

The Roche Volcanique range is younger vines from Rangen de Thann. This wine has 9.6g/l residual sugar. An immediate whiff on gunflint hints at a touch of reduction. The palate is soft at first, with pure ripe fruit to the fore. It tastes floral. There’s reserved acidity and slightly lifted alcohol. The lightly acidic soil makes wines with higher pH. It’s moreish, charming, long, and thoroughly enjoyable now. Tasted at the Domaine, March 2020 (AA)

Fruit from Goldert Grand Cru. Not the typical overt Gewurztraminer style on the nose but the fruit absolutely explodes on the front palate. It’s forward and tropical but then there is some pleasing smokiness and reserve on finish. Totally different. Vibrant, varied, and flamboyant. Tasted at the Domaine, March 2020 (AA)

Instant Gewurztraminer appeal. Pure, punchy, and perfumed. Pink grapefruit and wet stones. Lifted and round with a wonderful linear backbone of acidity throughout. No oiliness. Rather intangible on the finish. Upfront but then reserved. Remarkable. Tasted at the Domaine, March 2020 (AA)

Rangen de Thann is one of the most Southerly vineyards of Alsace. Volcanic soils, and vertiginous slopes. This site is so difficult to work it requires that estate to employ four full time staff for just 5.5ha! A golden pinky colour. Very savoury on the nose. Washed rind cheese. Floral, honied, advanced. Very tertiary. Burnt acacia honey, membrillo, yellow apple skins, peaty medicine. Suddenly there is freshness, length, and depth. Hugely layered. Less rich then 2012, but more than 2017. Pure, crystalline, developed. Plateauing. Tasted at the Domaine, March 2020 (AA)

Deep golden colour. Well developed and well aged whilst also seeming clean and fresh. Unctuous botrytis balanced by bright acidity. Fragrant and smoky. Not cloying at all. Tasted at the Domaine, March 2020 (AA)

Phenomenal aromatics. Honied, polished, savoury, smoky. So layered. Like the freshly spat out stones of super ripe lychees. Not the fruit, but the stone. Then there’s a note similar to high acidity coffee or cacao. Musk, almond kernels, and something animal. Intensely long. Moreish. Stunning. Tasted at the Domaine, March 2020 (AA)

Grand Cru Brand overlooks the village of Turckheim where Dom. Zind-Humbrecht are based. These are special steep granite soils. 2014 was an absolutely phenomenal vintage for Brand. A wine of opulent aromas - white fruit, acacia, and a whiff of smoke. The wine coats the palate, revealing great depth, complexity, and length. Racy and dry on the finish. For keeping.

Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. They all carry the signature of Rolly-Gassmann, a certain shameless, velvety sweetness. The fruit is rich and manages to balance the fruit with a vibrant acidity to form wines that melt on the palate.

Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. They all carry the signature of Rolly-Gassmann, a certain shameless, velvety sweetness. The fruit is rich and manages to balance the fruit with a vibrant acidity to form wines that melt on the palate.

Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. They all carry the signature of Rolly-Gassmann, a certain shameless, velvety sweetness. The fruit is rich and manages to balance the fruit with a vibrant acidity to form wines that melt on the palate.

Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. They all carry the signature of Rolly-Gassmann, a certain shameless, velvety sweetness. The fruit is rich and manages to balance the fruit with a vibrant acidity to form wines that melt on the palate.

Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. They all carry the signature of Rolly-Gassmann, a certain shameless, velvety sweetness. The fruit is rich and manages to balance the fruit with a vibrant acidity to form wines that melt on the palate.

Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. They all carry the signature of Rolly-Gassmann, a certain shameless, velvety sweetness. The fruit is rich and manages to balance the fruit with a vibrant acidity to form wines that melt on the palate.

Lychee like. Fresh flavours, not overripe at all. Tasty. Very well judged residual sugar. Bright finish, excellent balance, surprisingly long. Very appealing.