Fernand Engel Cremant Tradition
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Wine
Enthusiast -
James
Suckling
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Rich color, gold yellow and brilliant dress, continuous and fine effervescence. Open, rich and fine nose. Pleasant and attractive nose with aromas of bread yeasts, of almond past, fruitiness based on Mirabelle plum and Damas plum, on dried mulberries, aromas of camomilla and of broom. Round and fresh sparkling wine, refreshing and smooth.
Suitable as an aperitif and with dessert. Nice for receptions and parties. The fruity flavors of this wine predispose it to accompany a plum tart, a Sabayon with raspberries and vanilla or profiteroles.
Organically grown
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A touch of yeastiness is all that escapes on this wine’s closed nose, and even the bubbles keep their secrets. The palate offers more yeasty notes, paired with lemon freshness that shows both depth and brightness. Foam is fine and supple. It’s an elegant sparkler with a long, dry finish.
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James Suckling
Quite a full-bodied and generous Crémant that will appeal to those who like more powerful champagnes. Maybe it’s not that subtle, but I really like the full brioche and apricot notes. Nicely balanced, bold and dry finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
As soon as you arrive, your unreserved attention will be captured by a statue thrust high into the sky, with its arms opened wide before you.
The statue is here because this figure is the very symbol of their surname. The Statue is the perfect embodiment of the qualities of Fernand Engel wines which lie at the root of our wines’ charm and success.
This style of wine is the fruit of a passion, a family heritage and a state of mind. In the space of a generation, this 45 hectare domaine has become one of Alsace’s most important organically farmed vineyards. This success has come about through the production of wines that are generous, full of fruit, environmentally-friendly and accessible to all.
The richness of its soils (Grands Crus, Lieux-dits, Clos du Meyerhof) reveals itself wonderfully in its wines.
A term typically reserved for Champagne and Sparkling Wines, non-vintage or simply “NV” on a label indicates a blend of finished wines from different vintages (years of harvest). To make non-vintage Champagne, typically the current year’s harvest (in other words, the current vintage) forms the base of the blend. Finished wines from previous years, called “vins de reserve” are blended in at approximately 10-50% of the total volume in order to achieve the flavor, complexity, body and acidity for the desired house style. A tiny proportion of Champagnes are made from a single vintage.
There are also some very large production still wines that may not claim one particular vintage. This would be at the discretion of the winemaker’s goals for character of the final wine.
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.