Today we turn our video wine intelligence sights on what may be one of the most sadly underappreciated varietals, the Gewürztraminer. These wines are a real taste treat, typically packed with luscious aromas and flavors.
Full disclosure: I happen to be sipping one even now, a Fetzer Valley Oaks 2006, and the fruit and floral combinations are, well, quite intoxicating. (Give the brand a try sometime. As the gurus at Professionals Friends of Wine point out, Fetzer makes a “lightly-sweet version that is always serviceable and reasonably-priced and, occasionally, an excellent example.”)
But I digress. Back to our video intelligence — namely, Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV. Very passionate and aromatic wines these are, according to Gary, that unfortunately get confused with “sweet, stinking German wines.”
Next up: A 2002 Neumeyer Gewurztraminer Bruderthal ($25) from Alsace that starts off with “great, great nose” of golden apples. Gary is literally beside himself with it, confessing that he “can’t take my lips off it … completely seductive … out and out fantastic.”
Then there’s the German 2006 Hugelheim Gewurztraminer Spatlese ($12), which Gary mistakenly thought would be sweet enough to serve for dessert but tuned out to be dry and crisp. With a “1,000 percent like-honey” taste, it’s a “nice entry level” example, Gary says.
Watch the video for the details as well as the drama. And next time you’re in a wine shop, work up the courage to pronounce the name if you must (it’s Guh-verts-tra-mee-ner, courtesy of the Wine.com pronunciation guide) and try one out.
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A great way to learn about wines is to watch an expert taste, rate and describe them. Selections are picked because the topic is timely or seems particularly interesting. Each week a new clip, via Viddler, WNR’s player of choice because it lets you add your own comments.Looking for more? It’s called Wine Library TV for a reason: Visit Gary’s archive for other episodes.
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