thewinesociety.com/alsaceASNOV17

ALSACE 2015BEAUtIFUL WINES ACRoSS tHE BoARD

the joys of a red-letter vintage2015 will be remembered as one of those rare vintages when delicious wines were made across the entire breadth of Alsace: an embarrassment of riches spanning the region’s full gamut of wine styles and grape varieties. The personality of the vintage is generous and friendly, with the accent on richness and fruit-driven purity across the board. This mouthwatering selection from our favourite growers has something for everyone.

The only downside to be found among the wall-to-wall quality is that there is less wine to go around than normal. The vintage’s low yields were a double-edged sword that encouraged wonderful ripeness and roundness but also restricted supply of several wines (and ruled others out altogether). As a result, these wines are sure to be sought-after, so don’t miss the chance to order them while you can.

Perfect food winesAlsace boasts more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the world, which says something about the gastronomic success and versatility you’ll find in these wines. Few, if any, regions can offer such a delicious selection of dinner-table options; and, as eagle-eyed members will notice, we have moved this offering from its regular summer slot to complement the riches of autumn and winter. Whether you’re serving warming risottos and curries or fine poultry and game, these wines will be the perfect partners. If you need any help, we've put some food tips in the introductions for each grape variety: bon appétit!

RieslingFor many, riesling produces Alsace’s greatest wine. It is the same variety as that grown across the border in Germany but here it is almost invariably dry and fuller in body – and all the more so in this generous year. These will be sublime with fish, roast pork and mild Asian dishes.

NEW Riesling Vieilles Vignes, Cave de Turckheim 2015A very smart riesling with quality, character and complexity that belie its price tag. Delicious and fresh, but now just starting to develop some of the secondary aromas and flavours that come after a little time in bottle. Now to 2020. 12.5% ref AS-AL13821 £9.95 bottle £119 dozen

Riesling Tradition, Kuentz-Bas 2015Fully dry but delicate and charming, this is a lovely, fruity and fragrant riesling in the true Alsace style. Perfect with food yet light enough to be enjoyed as an aperitif. Now to 2020. 12.5% ref AS-AL13691 £10.95 bottle £131 dozen

NEW Riesling ‘Le Kottabe’, Josmeyer 2015Classically honed, expressive dry riesling from the Josmeyer sisters, with some delicacy coupled with palate weight despite the modest alcohol. Just starting to open up, this is slatey, mineral and long on the palate. Now to 2027. 12.5% ref AS-AL13381 £18 bottle £216 dozen

NEW Riesling Grand Cru Pfersigberg, Domaine Ginglinger 2015From old vines in the north of this grand cru vineyard, a sunnier site which brings ripe stone fruit, power and richness. For all its generosity, the wine also offers a refreshing saline quality, cleansing the palate ready for a second glass. Now to 2022. 13% ref AS-AL13611 £18.50 bottle £222 dozen

NEW Riesling Grand Cru Saering, Domaines Schlumberger 2015Schlumberger own more top-class Alsace vineyards than anyone. The gentle slope of Saering produces a fine, delicate, fragrant riesling, which is usually the most fruit-forward of this domaine’s wines. A wine with great charm now yet plenty of potential for the cellar too (if you can resist it!). Now to 2025. 14% ref AS-AL13761 £19 bottle £228 dozen

Joanna Locke MW Society Buyer

> order online at thewinesociety.com/alsace or call 01438 741177

delicious dinner-table options

The grape most commonly associated with Alsace enjoyed a fine 2015 vintage. Gewurztraminer produces wines with heady aromas of rose petal and lychee, and a full spicy flavour (gewürz means ‘spice’ in German). These are among the few wines which can really keep pace with Chinese or Indian food, and a gewurztraminer with ripe Munster cheese is one of the world’s great food-and-wine pairings. Enjoy!

NEW Gewurztraminer Tradition, Kuentz-Bas 2015A deliciously approachable wine showing the charms of this excellent year for the gewurztraminer grape: heady with floral perfume and spice, rich but clean cut on the palate. Now to 2020. 13% ref AS-AL13701 £12.50 bottle £150 dozen

NEW Gewurztraminer ‘Sables & Galets’, Cave de Turckheim 2015A rich and expressive wine from fruit grown in the ancient sand and pebble soils brought down from the Vosges mountains by glaciers. Benchmark gewurz aromas of rose and lychee with spice and body on the palate. Now to 2020. 13% ref AS-AL13711 £12.95 bottle £155 dozen

Gewurztraminer Les Princes Abbés, Domaines Schlumberger 2015A gorgeous and just off-dry example of gewurz in this fine, ripe vintage, with rose-petal and spice aromas, and plenty of presence on the palate. Now to 2020. 13.5% ref AS-AL13471 £14.50 bottle £174 dozen

Gewurztraminer, Léon Beyer 2015A textbook example of dry gewurztraminer, made to drink with food. This is still young but its delightful rose-petal fragrance opens in the glass and is punctuated by a sprinkling of spice. Now to 2020. 14% ref AS-AL13731 £14.95 bottle £179 dozen

NEW Gewurztraminer ‘Folastries’ Josmeyer 2015This intensely flavoured and just off-dry wine is arguably the very essence of gewurztraminer. A triumph, with heady aromas of Turkish delight, pot pourri and spice, and a long and silky palate. Now to 2024. 13.5% ref AS-AL13591 £21 bottle £252 dozen

NEW Gewurztraminer Réserve, Domaine Albert Boxler 2015Benchmark rich, off-dry gewurztraminer from the Heimbourg vineyard, with exotic notes of Turkish delight, lychee and spice balanced by lovely freshness. Now to 2021. 13.5% ref AS-AL13501 £26 bottle £312 dozen

NEW Gewurztraminer Altenbourg, Domaine Weinbach 2015Perfectly balanced single-vineyard gewurz, with lifted, floral aromas and lovely saline and mineral notes on the rich, long finish. Now to 2022. 13.5% ref AS-AL13871 £35 bottle £420 dozen

NEW Riesling ‘Pur de Roche’, Joseph Cattin 2015Finely hewn, classically dry riesling with a refreshing mineral backbone. Made from a parcel of old vines close to this excellent family estate’s cellars at Voegtlinshoffen. Now to 2022. 12.5% ref AS-AL13751 £20 bottle £240 dozen

NEW Riesling Sélection de Vieilles Vignes, Trimbach 2015Impeccable old-vine riesling from the world-renowned Trimbach estate. This wine is made only in the best years and is only just hitting its stride. Delicate aromas of white flowers give way to a muscular and concentrated palate with a solid backbone of acidity, ensuring that the flavours go on and on. Exquisite. Now to 2025. 14% ref AS-AL13641 £21.50 bottle £258 dozen

NEW Riesling ‘M’, Trimbach 2015This wine comes from the grand cru Mandelberg vineyard, but this is alluded to on the label only as ‘M’ – come next vintage it will bear the vineyard’s name proudly. In such a ripe year, this venerable vineyard has produced a wine of gentle power and astonishing length of flavour. Now to 2025. 14% ref AS-AL13891 £23.50 bottle £282 dozen

Riesling Le Dragon, Josmeyer 2015The strong personality of the Dragon vineyard in the commune of Turckheim is represented by winemaker Isabelle Meyer’s beautiful artwork on the label. Much more approachable than usual in its youth, the 2015 is rich, muscular and well structured, with great length on the palate. Now to 2026. 13% ref AS-AL13681 £24 bottle £288 dozen

Riesling Les Ecaillers, Léon Beyer 2015One of the classic dry rieslings of Alsace, made with grapes from the grand cru Pfersigberg vineyard in Eguisheim. A wine of power and richness but with a wonderful backbone of acidity and exquisite balance and length. Now to 2028. 13%ref AS-AL13841 £27 bottle £324 dozen

NEW Cuvée Léo, Domaine Frédéric Mochel 2015Riesling also produces exceptional dessert wines with a particular affinity for baked custards like crème brûlée or lemon tart. There will be some wonderful sweet 2015 wines to come in due course, but we could not resist including Mochel’s delightful late-harvest riesling here for a taste of things to come. This is a wonderful wine, marked out by its purity and finesse, and whose gentle sweetness is balanced by a firm backbone of life-affirming acidity. Now to 2023. 12%ref AS-AL13811 £29.50 bottle £354 dozen

Gewurztraminer

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MuscatThe same grape that produces lusciously sweet wines further south is nearly always bone-dry in Alsace. Its heady, often sweet-smelling aromas make it an engaging aperitif, while its dry palate makes it a sublime partner for all manner of dishes from roasted vegetables to dim sum.

Muscat Collection, Kuentz-Bas 2015Delicate and very pure muscat, with delightful floral and grapy aromas complemented by a whistle-clean palate. Now to 2020. 13% ref AS-AL13781 £11.95 bottle £143 dozen

NEW Muscat Grand Cru Saering, Dirler-Cadé 2015A young wine but, such is the style of this vintage, already showing wonderful concentration. Fresh and lively, with a heady jasmine note to the aroma, this is ample, food-friendly, full-flavoured and long. Now to 2022. 13% ref AS-AL13601 £22.50 bottle £270 dozen

NEW Muscat Grand Cru Goldert, Domaine Zind Humbrecht 2015An outstanding dry muscat from grand cru vines: intensely concentrated, perfectly poised and only just coming into its stride. A rare treat. Now to 2022. 13.5% ref AS-AL13631 £26 bottle £312 dozen

NEW Pinot Gris ‘Les Prélats’, Domaine Ginglinger 2015A beautifully poised wine, with gentle, come-hither bready aromas, silky texture and fine citrusy acidity on the long palate. Now to 2021. 13% ref AS-AL13621 £12.95 bottle £155 dozen

NEW Pinot Gris Estate, Famille Hugel 2015A new and impressive addition to the extensive Hugel portfolio, blended from a number of their best plots around Riquewihr: rich and mealy, with great concentration and length. Now to 2024. 14.5% ref AS-AL13831 £16.50 bottle £198 dozen

NEW Pinot Gris ‘Le Fromenteau’, Josmeyer 2015Fromenteau is an old name for pinot gris, here portrayed in classic style: generous and fat with wonderful bread and brioche flavours, and a spicy rich palate. Now to 2024. 13.5% ref AS-AL13391 £19 bottle £228 dozen

NEW Pinot Gris Réserve, Domaine Albert Boxler 2015Fabulous richness and an enticing range of aromas – pear, custard, cinnamon and spice – deliver great complexity in this fine pinot which includes some grand cru fruit. Now to 2023. 13.5% ref AS-AL13491 £26 bottle £312 dozen

Pinot grisProducing full, rich wines, less spicy than gewurztraminer, pinot gris is arguably the most food-friendly of all Alsace whites. Delicious with Thai or Middle-Eastern food, these wines also make excellent partners for roast goose and smoked fish.

ALSACE 2015 WHItE SPICE MIXED CASE £89Spicy, and spice-friendly, wines from pinot gris and gewurztraminer, in a vintage that brings their approachability and food-pairing adaptability to the fore.A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following wines:

Pinot Gris ‘Les Prélats’, Domaine Ginglinger 2015Pinot Gris Estate, Famille Hugel 2015Pinot Gris ‘Le Fromenteau’, Josmeyer 2015Gewurztraminer ‘Sables & Galets’, Cave de Turckheim 2015Gewurztraminer, Léon Beyer 2015Gewurztraminer Les Princes Abbés, Domaines Schlumberger 2015

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Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois & Sylvaner

PINot NoIRIn this fine vintage, pinot noir performed exceptionally well. These three earlier-drinking reds will shine with a host of festive courses from winter vegetables to goose.

NEW Pinot Noir Les Princes Abbés, Domaines Schlumberger 2015 This is a delightful pinot noir from Alsace’s largest estate. The bright aromas – all red cherry and strawberry fruit – continue on the smooth, refreshing palate. A lovely wine, ready to enjoy. Now to 2020. 12.5% ref AS-AL13791 £17.50 bottle £210 dozen

Pinot Noir Côte de Rouffach, Muré 2015 Young but, thanks to the depth and sweetness of this fine vintage, Muré’s pinot noir is already irresistible, sporting a strawberry hue and fresh wild-cherry fruit on the nose and palate. A delight. Now to 2020. 13.5% ref AS-AL13431 £21 bottle £252 dozen

NEW Pinot Noir, Dirler-Cadé 2015The added weight of the 2015 vintage has given this wine wonderful depth and roundness, with fresh black-cherry fruit, enhanced by a delightful violet perfume. Now to 2021. 13.5% ref AS-AL13801 £22 bottle £264 dozen

> SEE tHE BACK PAGE FoR FoUR MIXED CASES

Pinot blanc can make a delicious wine to drink on its own but, this being Alsace, is also widely adaptable with food. Auxerrois is rarely seen on wine labels, but is very much present in wines legitimately labelled as pinot blanc. Try a sylvaner with pork, ham and fatty bacon or a classic onion tart.

NEW Pinot Blanc ‘Terres de Granit’, Cave de Turckheim 2015With a little more palate weight than Turckheim’s ‘regular’ pinot blanc bottling, this is a moreish interpretation of the grape, with enough fat to complement a wide range of dishes, while remaining approachable enough to drink on its own. Drink this year and next. 13% ref AS-AL13721 £8.95 bottle £107 dozen

Sylvaner, Léon Beyer 2015Fully dry but rich and broad in the style of the 2015 vintage, with hints of almond and a twist of apple freshness on the palate. The last of this vintage, so grab it while you can and enjoy it this year and next. 12.5%Available only as part of the ‘Introducing Alsace 2015’ mixed case

Pinot Blanc, Domaine Ginglinger 2015Refined and beautifully balanced pinot blanc from the Ginglinger family, whose base is in Eguisheim just south of Colmar. Refreshing and moreish, with mineral freshness on the palate. Now to 2019. 12.5% ref AS-AL13651 £10.95 bottle £131 dozen

NEW Sylvaner Vieilles Vignes, Dirler-Cadé 2015An ageworthy sylvaner from older vines and low yields, just starting to open up. Spicy and rich with plenty of flavour. Now to 2025. 13.5% ref AS-AL13581 £14.50 bottle £174 dozen

Sylvaner Grand Cru Zotzenberg, Boeckel 2015The Zotzenberg vineyard produces the only grand cru sylvaner, a grape perfectly suited to this more northerly site in the village of Mittelbergheim. Old-vine richness and orchard-fruit flavours are balanced by an appetising saline and mineral quality on both nose and palate. Now to 2021. 14% ref AS-AL13671 £19.50 bottle £234 dozen

Pinot Auxerrois ‘H’ Vieilles Vignes, Josmeyer 2015Exceptional wine from the only auxerrois vines in the heart of the grand cru Hengst vineyard (acknowledged here by the ‘H’ in the name). Rich and creamy textured, with aromas of orchard fruits and just a hint of smokiness which adds complexity. Now to 2023. 13.5% ref AS-AL13661 £23.50 bottle £282 dozen

NEW Pinot Blanc ‘B’, Domaine Albert Boxler 2015From the grand cru Brand vineyard, this is a serious but enchanting wine, pure and gentle, with silky texture, refined and long on the palate. Now to 2021. 13% ref AS-AL13481 £24 bottle £288 dozen

Products and prices are valid until 19th December, while stocks last.

Please order as early as possible to ensure your wines are delivered in time for Christmas.

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OF THE YEAR 2017

Key

- bone dry to intensely sweet synthetic closure

MIXED CASES – FREE UK DELIVERYALSACE 2015 RIESLING CASE £119Half a dozen dry and delightful rieslings, ready to take the strain with all manner of courses and cuisines.A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following wines:

Riesling ‘Le Kottabe’, Josmeyer 2015Riesling Grand Cru Pfersigberg, Domaine Ginglinger 2015Riesling Grand Cru Saering, Domaines Schlumberger 2015Riesling Sélection de Vieilles Vignes, Trimbach 2015Riesling ‘M’, Trimbach 2015Riesling ‘Pur de Roche’, Joseph Cattin 2015

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INtRoDUCING ALSACE 2015 MIXED CASE £129A friendly introduction to this come-hither vintage and with a modest saving too, this features delicious and reliable white wines from Alsace’s main grapes.A 12-bottle case containing two bottles of each of the following wines:

Sylvaner, Léon Beyer 2015Pinot Blanc, Domaine Ginglinger 2015Muscat Collection, Kuentz-Bas 2015Riesling Vieilles Vignes, Cave de Turckheim 2015Pinot Gris ‘Les Prélats’, Domaine Ginglinger 2015Gewurztraminer Tradition, Kuentz-Bas 2015

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ALSACE 2015 PINot NoIR CASE £119The ripe 2015 vintage makes a perfect case for Alsace’s red wines. Sample a trio of pinots in this rewarding collection.A six-bottle case containing two bottles of each of the following wines:

Pinot Noir Les Princes Abbés, Domaines Schlumberger 2015 Pinot Noir Côte de Rouffach, Muré 2015 Pinot Noir, Dirler-Cadé 2015

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ALSACE 2015 MIXED DoZEN £210Treat yourself, and your guests, to a delicious overview of this fine Alsace vintage, covering a wonderful array of grape varieties and gastronomic possibilities.A 12-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following wines:

WHITESylvaner Vieilles Vignes, Dirler-Cadé 2015Pinot Blanc ‘Terres de Granit’, Cave de Turckheim 2015Pinot Auxerrois “H” Vieilles Vignes, Josmeyer 2015Muscat Collection, Kuentz-Bas 2015Muscat Grand Cru Goldert, Domaine Zind Humbrecht 2015Riesling Tradition, Kuentz-Bas 2015Riesling Les Ecaillers, Léon Beyer 2015Pinot Gris ‘Les Prélats’, Domaine Ginglinger 2015Pinot Gris ‘Le Fromenteau’, Josmeyer 2015Gewurztraminer Réserve, Domaine Albert Boxler 2015Gewurztraminer Les Princes Abbés, Domaines Schlumberger 2015REDPinot Noir Côte de Rouffach, Muré 2015

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