There are three appellations d’Origine Controlees in the wine region of Alsace. Alsace Grand Cru for white wines from classified vineyards, Alsace AOC for red, white, and rose wines, and Cremant d’Alsace AOC for sparkling wine, which is the only Alsace region that is allowed to label their wines based on varietal. A separate appellation, Alsace Grand Cru, was created in 1975, and as of 2009, there were 51 lieux-dits listed. Every wine that is labeled must be produced from Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, or Gewürztraminer grapes. Crémant d'Alsace is an Appellation for sparkling wines. AOC status was granted on August 24, 1976. The wines are produced with traditional methods using Pinot Blanc grapes. The sparkling wines may also contain Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir grapes. Chardonnay cannot not be used in the two other Alsace appellations. Pinot Noir grapes in the region are used for Rose Cremant d'Alsace. Cremant d'Alsace is a huge part of the wine production in Alsace, with 18% of the vineyards in this region used for this purpose. Sparkling wine in Alsace goes back to 1900, when Julien Dopff applied the champagne method to his own wines that were produced in the Alsatian region.
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Wolfberger Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann is made from 100 percent Pinot Gris
Honey, ripe fruits and sweet spices.
Long and ripe fruit flavors, with apricot and badian hints.
The Rangen Grand Cru is located in Thann, deep in the south of Alsace. Its particular soil is made of volcano-clastic rocks that drink up the heat of the day and send it back out again at night. The composition of the soil allows the roots of the vines to drink deeply from the mineral-rich sub-soil. Its southern exposure has the advantage of refreshing, drying winds in case of dampness. The high slopes are quite steep, reaching 68% in some places, requiring that the harvest be done by abseiling or roping down. Perfect for aging, these wines will reveal even more qualities after several years in the cellar.
Pair with duck honey and balsamic vinegar, foie gras, cheese like vacherin, comte 18 months, pork aigre douce (sweet and sour), dessert with apricot.
Review:
"Smoky hints of both ripe and dried pear have a honeyed edge. The palate comes in with that same honeyed sweetness on a rather concentrated powerful palate. Both lemon notes and lovely phenolic grip give structure. The finish is medium sweet and long. - ANNE KREBIEHL MW."
- Wine Enthusiast Magazine (December 1st 2018), 93 pts
The Grade Cabernet Sauvignon Serpent's Back Napa Valley is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
Review:
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Serpent's Back shows a more aromatic, high-toned side of this site. Bright red/purplish berry fruit, pomegranate, cinnamon and sweet floral accents are all laced together. The Serpent's Back is the most refined of these three Cabernets, but it has plenty of Calistoga punch.
-- Antonio Galloni 95 Points
Bass Phillips Estate Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
For this reviewer's money, BP's Estate Pinot offers the best bang for buck. While still a special occasion wine, it's almost as gorgeous as its elder siblings, and crafted for drinking younger. Ironically, it's also the one that takes longest to open up. But when it does, it billows aromas of dried cranberry, cherry preserves, umami-like mushrooms, cocktail bitters and potpourri. The palate is silky with a lift of crystalline acidity, wound ultra fine, talc-like tannins. An iron fist in a velvet glove, this is long and elegant, able to age another 5-7 years but drinking beautifully right now.
-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points