Picture this: you’re planning an evening with your significant other after the kids go to bed. You’ve planned a beautiful meal and just picked up a delicious red wine. You remember the importance of an appetizer, and decide you want to have another wine to start. What do you pick?
In these situations, I always have some curious wines in my back pocket that you should probably add to yours. Better than your standard riesling or chardonnay, these wines are fantastic with a story. The best part is they don’t break the bank.
One of these curious wine categories are Alsatian wines. As the inaugural “wines of the month” post, here’s an example of one wine you should try and one you shouldn’t. See below for pictures and tasting notes, and check them out at your local wine store (like Total Wine).
Cheers!
Albert Mann Alsace Pinot Blanc 2013
For a wine you should, pick this one up. You won’t see this wine on many wine lists, but it’s a well grown grape from the Alsace region of France. It accounts regionally for roughly 21% of their total grape varietals grown. I wished it was a candle so I could smell this all day!
TASTING NOTE: Amazing. I feel as though this wine transported me to France, right where the vines grow. Beautiful nose of pears and sweet fruits, along with cotton candy and mild spice notes. Sweet yet balanced perfectly with the acidity at the start that grows alongside the expanding fruit flavors that felt like a pear exploded in my mouth. Finish blended perfectly. Must try- a perfect in-between of Alsatian Riesling and their sweeter German counterpart. 5/5
Monte Clavijo 2013 Rioja Rosé
If you don’t already know, I’m a firm believer in Rosé wines. But this one fell flat. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Tempranillo, this one is a definite don’t.
TASTING NOTE: ACID ACID ACID. That’s all I feel like I can say. Good nose of strawberries that made it so exciting but fell flat. These grapes were way too young, or someone poured acid in the tanks. Gave us both heartburn actually. Do not recommend this one, but would try another vintage. Perhaps something happened during this vintage. 1.5/5
TW
What wines you do YOU like? Post below and I’ll make sure to check them out and give them my review 🤔
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