Vignobles François Baur 2006 Tasting Notes

Riesling Grand Cru Brand 2002
2002 was a warm year with intermittent rain, and has produced excellent Riesling. Warmer than its neighbours in Germany, Alsace produces more powerful wines with an earthy goût de terrior. This wine has a level of richness, balanced by delightful fresh lemon acidity so it is excellent for sipping chilled as an apéritif, or accompanying fish and white meats. If you like your Riesling fresh, then drink it now, or if you like the complexity that comes with age, then keep it for up to 10 years.

Gewürztraminer Herrenweg 2003
The heatwave vintage produced wines with unprecedented levels of ripeness. Made from grapes grown on the Herrenweg plain to the south of the village, this Gewürztraminer has a bouquet of ripe, exotic fruits, and is one of the most opulent and easily recognisable of all the many grape varieties. The round supple taste is long and luscious, but with such well-balanced sweetness that it is not cloying. It goes very well with many highly-seasoned dishes, including spicy curries - indeed it is one of the best matches for Indian and Asian cuisine. It is also a good choice with strong cheese, or fruit-based desserts. You can drink it now or keep it for up to five years.

Pinot Gris Herrenweg 2003
Another one-off from an amazing vintage, this is a fruit-loaded wine where the open bouquet of apricot, honey and lemon follows through to the palate with an agreeable sweetness and good balancing acidity. This wine has a richness not often found in Alsatian Pinot Gris and is light years away from the rather bland, but hugely fashionable, Italian version: Pinot Gris. It is delicious chilled as an apéritif, but it also goes particularly well with fish in a rich sauce, meat pâtés, and its partner par excellence, foie gras. This wine will also cellar well for up to five years.