Domaine Barmes-Buecher Steingrubler Gewurztraminer Grand Cru 2018
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The Steingrubler Grand Cru vineyard in Wettolsheim has a complex terroir consisting of clay-marl limestone soils on granitic sands. The south and east facing vines flourish here due to the mineral and climatic complexity of the environment. This Grand Cru parcel produces round, elegant and refined wines with good aging potential.
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Reduction still clouds the nose of this wine, but in a promising, smoky fashion. The palate shows the vivid ripeness of juicy peach, the slightly bitter, almond-edged pithiness of cooked peach skin and the sweetness of peach compote. Eveything is intense and pithiness makes the mouth water. Drink this rich, mellow but exciting wine by 2040.
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2021-
James
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Domaine Barmès-Buecher, located in the heart of the Alsace region, just a few kilometres from Colmar and Eguisheim, was founded in 1985 by Geneviève Barmès (née Buecher) and her husband François Barmès. They combined the land holdings of their respective families, who had owned vines in Wettolsheim, one of the region’s largest wine growing towns, since the 17th century.
Geneviève and François chose to grow their vines using biodynamic practices, which places the emphasis on a respect for nature, life forces and natural cycles. The Domaine’s 15 hectares were converted to biodynamic growing in 1998 and have been certified biodynamic since the 2001 vintage.
This form of wine growing allows a closer relationship with the terroir and a better understanding of the environment surrounding the vine and the wine grower.
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.
With its fairytale aesthetic, Germanic influence and strong emphasis on white wines, Alsace is one of France’s most unique viticultural regions. This hotly contested stretch of land running north to south on France’s northeastern border has spent much of its existence as German territory. Nestled in the rain shadow of the Vosges mountains, it is one of the driest regions of France but enjoys a long and cool growing season. Autumn humidity facilitates the development of “noble rot” for the production of late-picked sweet wines, Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles.
The best wines of Alsace can be described as aromatic and honeyed, even when completely dry. The region’s “noble” varieties, the only ones permitted within Alsace’s 51 Grands Crus vineyards, are Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, and Pinot Gris.
Riesling is Alsace’s main specialty. In its youth, Alsace Riesling is dry, fresh and floral, but develops complex mineral and flint character with age. Gewurztraminer is known for its signature spice and lychee aromatics, and is often utilized for late harvest wines. Pinot Gris is prized for its combination of crisp acidity and savory spice as well as ripe stone fruit flavors. Muscat, vinified dry, tastes of ripe green grapes and fresh rose petal.
Other varieties grown here include Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Chasselas, Sylvaner and Pinot Noir—the only red grape permitted in Alsace and mainly used for sparkling rosé known as Crémant d’Alsace. Most Alsace wines are single-varietal bottlings and unlike other French regions, are also labeled with the variety name.