This wine from Domaine Jean Becker in Alsace is made from Gewurztraminer. Gewurztraminer is a highly aromatic grape variety that usually produces rich, perfumed white wines, but here Becker has chosen to make an orange wine from the grape. Orange wine, in short, means taking a white grape variety and treating it as if it were a red wine. Most importantly, the juice is aged with the skins and seeds, which add tannin and structure and also influence the aromas. This is what gives the wine its beautiful orange colour. Becker’s interpretation is a true natural wine with no added sulphites. The grapes come from two of Becker’s best sites: Hohrain and the Grand Cru site Froehn.
Colour: Medium-deep, slightly cloudy orange Nose: Unmistakable, intense Gewurztraminer perfume with lychee, ripe peach and peach skin, apricot, mixed tropical fruits, rosewater and floral potpourri. Also a rustic note from the wild-yeast fermentation. Palate: Very intense and full-bodied, almost oily, with low acidity. It can seem as if there is a touch of residual sweetness even though it is completely dry. Clearly made from grapes of exceptionally high quality and ripeness—truly a rich, generous wine. Gentle, soft tannins. Sometimes the grape’s character changes significantly when made as orange wine rather than a white wine, but in this case the distinctive, intense aromatics of Gewurztraminer shine through clearly. Add to that a bit of “natural wildness” and rusticity.
Serving suggestions: Decant for 30 minutes if possible and serve cool. Delicious as an aperitif, with mixed tapas, or with a variety of cheeses. Also great with Asian/Oriental cuisine, e.g. satay.
