Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Brand is intensely aromatic yet fine and spicy on the nose, with tropical fruit aromas intermixed with flinty tones. The palate is round and intense, very elegant and refined, with a dense and velvety texture and very fine tannins. The finish is very long and salty. One of the rare great Gewürztraminers from granite.
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Vinous
Bright pale yellow; the color is much lighter than the Gewürz Reserve because there was much less noble-rot-affected fruit used here. Exotic smoky notes color the ripe apricot, guava and white flower notes. Then silky and long, with lively mineral-laced aromas of pomaceous orchard fruit. Less obviously Gewürz than the 2017 Reserve from Boxler, this is a very elegant rendition of the grape variety. These grapes are all from the Kirchthal vines, which are 50 years old and located right next to Boxler’s Pinot Gris vines, on very rich soils that are not likely to undergo water stress.
Rating: 92+
Gewürztraminer, an expressive and aromatically distinctive white grape variety, is considered a noble variety in the Alsace region of France, and produces wonderful wines in the mountainous Alto Adige region of NE Italy. Generally this grape grows well in cooler regions and its natural intensity makes it a great ally for flavorful cuisine such as Indian, Middle Eastern or Moroccan. Somm Secret—Because of a charming perfume and tendency towards slight sweetness, Gewürztraminer makes for an excellent gateway wine for those who love sweet wines but want to venture into the realm of drier whites.
Small but mighty, this picturesque region in northeastern France is renowned for its white wines produced by passionate families whose winemaking roots span generations and even centuries. Nestled between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River, Alsace benefits from a sunny, dry climate and a long growing season. It is one of the most geologically diverse regions in the world — one of the many reasons why Alsace rocks!
Alsace wines include dry, mineral-driven Riesling, earthy Pinot Gris, refreshing Pinot Blanc, exuberant Gewurztraminer, elegant Pinot Noir, and more. From traditional-method sparkling wines to easy-drinking AOC Alsace, to complex Grand Cru bottlings from 51 distinct sites, and rich, late harvest wines, Alsace produces a wine for every occasion. Most Alsace wines are single-varietal bottlings and are labeled with the grape name. The region is also one of the greenest wine-producing areas in France, with 36% of its vineyard area certified organic.
Riesling, the region’s calling card, is dry, fresh and floral in its youth, developing complex mineral and flint character with age. Gewurztraminer is known for its signature spice and lychee aromatics. Pinot Gris is prized for its combination of crisp acidity and savory spice as well as ripe stone fruit flavors. Pinot Blanc is an affable food partner or porch sipper. Pinot Noir, the only red grape in AOC Alsace, is now authorized in three Grand Cru areas and is also used for Crémant d’Alsace sparkling rosé. Any bottle you choose will offer deliciousness, pleasure and value that is unprecedented in other wine regions.