I thought it would be useful to post a note sent to me by a friend who popped a bottle of this wine – partly as a warning to leave it alone for a year or two. I feel a little bad, since I probably kind of leaned on him to buy a few bottles once I decided to get some for myself. His note prevented me from opening one of my own.
Here is what Erik had to say:
I told him that when I wine is being made for the long haul, the winemaker will make more use of seed and stem and skin, which has a protective effect. But just like many reds, the wine can be disappointing if opened young. I imagine from this description that the wine needs at least a year or two to start being fun to drink. Am I right?
I’ve drank one of my bottles and felt it was ready to go. Certainly no bitterness, and a nice full Gewurtz nose. The only thing that I didn’t like about it was that it did not seem as dry as prior vintages that I have had.
My notes are quite different than your friends…though not as complex as the '04, I thought the nose was amazing and probably the highlight of the wine. I did feel the finish was closed but not bitter.
I had a similar experience to Eric’s – there was a lot of alcohol heat right off the bat, way too much, and a very bitter finish. I had a glass over the evening and then put it aside and tasted it over the next 4 days. The heat subsided as did the bitterness, but the wine itself did not exhibit the range of flavors that others have noted, just a lot of sweetness, maybe too much.
I have 2 more bottles and will put aside for a year and hope for the best. Or maybe I’ll return them. Perhaps there is a problem with the vintage, storage or bottling consistency. I also purchased via cinderellawine.
Hi – I am moving over my previous post (still getting the hang of the forum) :
I had a similar experience to Erik’s – there was a lot of alcohol heat right off the bat, way too much, and a very bitter finish. I had a glass over the evening and then put it aside and tasted it over the next 4 days. The heat subsided as did the bitterness, but the wine itself did not exhibit the range of flavors that others have noted, just a lot of sweetness, maybe too much.
I have 2 more bottles and will put aside for a year and hope for the best. Or maybe I’ll return them. Perhaps there is a problem with the vintage, storage or bottling consistency. I also purchased via cinderellawine.
It’s unfortunate that there is so much variation between bottles. I hope your other bottles provide better pleasure and I agree to let these sit for years. It’s weird you got that much sweetness from 15% alc.
I have not had this vintage of the wine but I have had previous ones, including a few years past release. A little bitterness and stiffness have always been there. It’s not something that’s built to age. (Very few gewurtztraminers are in my opinion.) If you don’t like it now, get rid of it or cook with it.
Yeah, our bottle did have a great Gewurz nose but the alcohol took away from the finish as did some bitterness. I wasn’t encouraged to have a second glass and we did try it over many nights. It was okay, not stoked that I have 2 more but will space them out over the next year and see if there is some improvement.
I have not had this wine. I never had a Gewurz whose nose was shut down though. Even if the palate was less. Sounds like a flawed bottle. Bitterness is not out of character.