Alsace is home to a wide variety of wine styles, usually named after the grape variety. For most wine lovers, Alsace primarily produces mildly dry white wines that are perfect for enjoying outside of meals. Almost every Alsace wine is made from a single grape variety. The most well-known are Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Blanc. Gewürztraminer is undoubtedly the most distinctive.
This Gewürztraminer comes from Domaine Engel, where time-honored Alsatian traditions are combined with modern winemaking techniques. Moreover, all the grapes come from their own vineyards: three plots in Bergheim and two in Rorschwihr, about twenty kilometers from Colmar in Alsace. This results in beautiful, pure white wines. Since 2006, all Engel vineyards have been certified organic by Ecocert.
The old vines don't produce many grapes, but they do produce complex and very ripe grapes. The whole bunches are pressed together. This is followed by a twelve-hour cold maceration. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of twenty degrees Celsius. The wine then matures on its lees for another twelve to fourteen months, adding further complexity to this Gewürztraminer. This long aging period gives this wine its distinctive character, making it stand out in the Alsace region. The aroma reveals aromas of young roses and lychees with underlying notes of banana and cinnamon. A light touch of spice (nutmeg and cinnamon) is present. The taste is ripe, slightly sweet, with plenty of yellow fruit and a spicy undertone.
