Josmeyer Gewurztraminer Cuvee des Folastries 2005
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-Wine Advocate
"Pale, bright yellow. Captivating aromas of smoked meats, spices, pineapple and floral oils. Fat, dense and sweet but shapely; a plump, opulent wine with strong material and a note of licorice. Almost a parody of gewurztraminer, notes Meyer; this tastes sweeter than its three g/l r.s. Meyer adds that with biodynamic farming, "you can't find the alcoholic warmth in the wines."
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Towards the end of the nineties, the vineyards were turned over to fully organic and bio-dynamic culture. In 2004 Josmeyer received the AB (agriculture biologic) certification. This alternative route, more demanding and expensive than conventional viticulture, allows man to work in harmony with the sky, the earth and the vines. This close relationship between these four elements produces superb grapes which, in their turn, give birth to deep, balanced wines with a unique personality.
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.