Trimback gewurtztraminer Alsace 2004

Not drinking German wines? Well, you should be. I know what you're going to say, Alsace is in France. And.. you're right.

Alsace is an interesting place. It's in France but I'm not sure the locals be lieve it. Any wine from the region follows German lines. You will fin d reisling, gewurtz, and weisburgunder here instead of pinot noir ( which i s spätburgunder), chard, or Rhone varietals.

I picked up this guy at the clearance at Kroger. This just shows that most Americans don't get the Alsace and German whites. If it ain't Riesling, it ain't happening. Don't get caught up in the hoopla, "gewurtz" (say "ga-vurtz") is the real thing. I find gewrutz to have more character, nose, and depth then reisling, muller-thurgau, weisburgunder, etc.

Try the nose. I get the smell of the earth in which this grape grows. Moist loam and flowers with a mild citrus. Dry! Excuse me.. trocken.

Enjoy with fish on the grill or Thai carry-out. It'll put out the spicy fire. Take it on its own for a gutsy alternative to wimpy chards or other flabby whites.

If you can't find Alsation gewurtz, try the American versions from Washington like Chateau St. Michelle or Sonoma like Gundlach Bundschu. This grape carries itself into any of the wines made from it.

T-scale 89.

Available and big for a white. Huge nose, dry dry dry, short finish but fruity and spicy. Put out that hot spicy fire of Thai or Mexican with this guy.