Tasting the Wines of Alsace, 2022 Releases

Alsace is best known for its crisp, aromatic, and usually very affordable white wines, but if you dig a bit deeper, you’ll find that this region produces wines in a surprisingly varied range of styles. Let’s take a dip into 5 current releases representing the range of wines coming out of Alsace.

NV Willm Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rose – A creamy, refreshing cremant, this rounded sparkler offers classic notes of strawberries in cream, a touch of grapefruit peel, and an ample floral character to keep the experience balanced, never overloading things with too much fruit. The finish is lightly grassy, offering a nice foil to what precedes it. A- / $19

NV Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut (2020) – Probably the most well-known sparkling Alsatian wine, this 2022 release is a very doughy, almost biscuity wine, chewy with notes of almonds and brown butter, tinged with green olive and fresh hay. Innocuous, with a muted finish. B / $18

2020 Emile Beyer Pinot Blanc Tradition Alsace – Honeyed, almost peachy, this fruity yet mineral-heavy wine is an instant crowd-pleaser, with a strong floral underbelly. A hint of coconut melds well with strong notes of pineapple that build on the finish, with just a touch of sour apple enduring. A- / $19

2019 Ribeauville Riesling Alsace – Ever so slightly on the sweet side, this fragrant and fruity wine melds apples and pears with notes of elderflower and a hint of guava. Straightforward and approachable, with a mineral-laden bitterness on the bracing finish. A- / $17

2018 Meyer-Fonne Pinot Noir Reserve Alsace – Alsatian pinot noir is a true rarity in the U.S., and here the varietal showcases its racier, acidic side, with notes of tart cranberry pairing fitfully with turned earth. Slightly thin, with notes of thyme and rosemary giving the finish an herbal edge. B / $29

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