2021 Gewürztraminer, Trocken, Selbach-Oster, Mosel, Germany
Critics reviews
This is positively surreal, both as a Mosel wine and a Gewurztraminer. Complex aromas of Turkish delight, fresh thyme, rosemary, persimmon, and lychee. Exceptionally light-footed and delicate for this grape. Only at the finish is there a hint of the unctuous and exotic sides to its personality. Bone dry and refreshing finish.
Drink or hold. Screw cap.
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (November 2022)
About this WINE
Selbach-Oster
The Selbachs have been cultivating Riesling vines in the Mosel since 1661. Today, Johannes Selbach and his wife Barbara run the estate, now one of the leading producers in the Mittelmosel.
There are 10.6 hectares of vineyards including holdings in Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, and Graacher Domprobst. The grapes are handpicked and then fermented in traditional large oak barrels. The emphasis here is on finesse and purity of fruit, producing supremely elegant Kabinett and Spätlese wines as well as powerful, concentrated Auslese wines.
Mosel
The Mosel wine region in Germany is renowned for its high-quality white wines, especially Riesling. Its unique terroir of steep slopes, slate soils, and cool climate contributes to the wines' distinctive character.
Riesling dominates the vineyard plantings, and the region follows a vineyard classification system based on ripeness levels. Historic vineyards, such as Erdener Prälat and Wehlener Sonnenuhr, produce exceptional wines.
The Mosel offers various styles, from crisp Kabinett and rich dessert wines. The region's wine culture is celebrated through multiple festivals, making it a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts.
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer is a high quality white grape which produces classic varietal wines in the Alsace region of France.
It is the second most widely planted grape in Alsace and the most widely planted in the Haut-Rhin where it is particularly well suited to the clay-rich soils found in the Vosges foothills. It is normally fermented dry and produces golden, medium to full-bodied wine with heady aromas of lychees, rose petals and white peaches.
It attains naturally high sugar levels far in excess of Riesling and this makes it ideal for sweet, late harvest wines. These can be unctuously sweet and luscious and the best can last for decades. Rieffel, Hugel and Zind Humbrecht consistently produce the finest Gewürztraminer wines in Alsace.
It is also planted in Germany (specifically in the Rheinpfalz and Baden regions), Austria, the Alto Adige in Italy and to a lesser extent in Australia, New Zealand and California. Gerwürz means spice in German, although this pink-skinned grape tends to produce exotically perfumed rather than spice laden wines.
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Description
Johannes Selbach fell in love with Gewürztraminer after tasting a 1971 vintage from Alsace superstar, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht. Since then, he has wanted to make a bone-dry, restrained style of wine from this grape variety, which can otherwise become rather exuberant. He has absolutely achieved this with this gorgeous, sophisticated wine.
The nose has beautiful ‘Gewürz’ aromatics, being lifted and perfumed, full of rose petals and lychees, yet without feeling too overwhelming. The palate is so incredibly fresh and elegant, completely dry with a creamy texture and wonderfully elegant. There is nothing overblown about this at all; it is perfectly poised and absolutely gorgeous. This would be delicious either on its own or with various foods such as aromatic Thai dishes or garden salad with fresh rocket and radishes.
Drink now to 2030
Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (March 2023)wine at a glance
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