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This offer is open until Sunday 13th July, 2014, while stocks last.

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THE SOCIETY’S PROMISE

MIXED CASES

KEYSee the April List for details on alcohol levels.

- bone dry to intensely sweet Screwcap Synthetic closure

New Vintage Wine champion/Fine wine champion

‘2012 is a year when all seven main Alsace grape varieties are finely etched, beautifully balanced

and fully revealing of their infinite character.’ Marcel Orford-Williams

Society Alsace Buyer

Pinot blanc is the ideal quaffing wine: light, easy with a rounded touch and lovely with quiche. The wines are usually made from two varieties, pinot blanc itself and the fatter-tasting auxerrois.

Pinot Blanc, Cave de TurckheimCrisp, clean and fruity dry white with that touch of roundness that is so characteristic of pinot blanc. Enjoyable on its own or with food. 12.5%ref AS-AL10831 £6.95 bottle £83 dozen

Pinot Blanc, TrimbachImpeccable, crisp, elegant with a perfect sense of balance and made using 70% auxerrois (as the regulations allow). Benchmark pinot blanc. Brilliant. 12.5%ref AS-AL11061 £9.50 bottle £114 dozen

PINOT NOIRThe quintessential Burgundian red grape is in fact the oldest recorded grape variety in Alsace, predating riesling by at least seven centuries. Over the years the styles have changed as has the climate. Today, pinot noir is enjoying something of a comeback, in part thanks to warmer weather. Lovely ripe pinots in 2012.

NEW Pinot Noir Réserve, TrimbachA lovely pinot noir, cherry red, fragrant, fruity and round. Now to 2018. 12.5%ref AS-AL11181 £12.95 bottle £155 dozen

NEW Pinot Noir V, MuréThe ‘V’ stands for the grand cru Vorbourg vineyard, known since medieval times for the quality of its reds. The Muré family has recently acquired a reputation for pinot noir and theirs are among the best in Alsace. This comes from old vines and is full-flavoured and velvety. Now to 2019. 13%ref AS-AL11451 £24 bottle £288 dozen

PINOT GRISAlsace pinot gris is a creature quite apart from its Italian cousin, pinot grigio. Yields for the best wines are invariably low and the grapes are picked at optimum ripeness. We resist the sweeter pinot gris as the dryer styles which are harder to make are better suited to go with food.

Pinot Gris Tradition, HugelThis creamy, rich and full-flavoured pinot gris comes from Hugel’s own vines in Riquewihr. Now to 2019. 13.5%ref AS-AL10961 £12.95 bottle £155 dozen

Pinot Gris, Léon BeyerFully dry pinot gris is relatively rare in Alsace but at Léon Beyer it is almost a matter of principle and they do it extremely well. The 2012 is rich and buttery with a hint of toffee and great length. Brilliant with risotto or veal with a cream and mushroom sauce. Now to 2019. 13%ref AS-AL11101 £13.50 bottle £162 dozen

NEW Klevner, Domaine MochelKlevner is a local name for pinot blanc. This one comes from an outstanding producer in the far north near Strasbourg. Dry, fruity with a touch of peach or melon, and very refreshing. Now to 2017. 12%ref AS-AL11041 £10.95 bottle £131 dozen

NEW Auxerrois ‘H’, Josmeyer Powerful, full-bodied white from old vines; fat and rich and crying out for food. A mushroom risotto would do. The ‘H’ in the name stands for the grand cru Hengst vineyard. Now to 2019. 12.5% ref AS-AL11091 £21 bottle £252 dozen

PINOT BLANC & AUXERROIS

A TASTE OF ALSACE 2012 ALSACE 2012: EXPLORING THE GRANDS CRUS

ALSACE GEWURZTRAMINER 2012: THE SPICE COUNTER

ALSACE 2012 MIXED DOZEN

A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:

The Society’s Vin d’Alsace

Pinot Blanc, Cave de Turckheim

Riesling, Léon Beyer

KB, Kuentz-Bas

Terroir des Châteaux Forts, Domaine Rolly-Gassmann

Gewurztraminer Tradition, Cave de Turckheim

ref AS-MX14108

A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:

Sylvaner Grand Cru Zotzenberg, Domaine Boeckel

Muscat Grand Cru Saering, Dirler-Cadé

Riesling Grand Cru Pfersigberg, Kuentz-Bas

Gewurztraminer Jubilee, Hugel

Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg Cuvée Sainte-Catherine, Domaine Weinbach

Auxerrois ‘H’, Josmeyer

ref AS-MX14110

A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:

Gewurztraminer, Trimbach

Gewurztraminer Folastries, Josmeyer

Gewurztraminer, Léon Beyer

Gewurztraminer, Domaine Bruno Sorg

Gewurztraminer, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim, Domaine Rolly Gassmann

ref AS-MX14109

A 12-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:

Pinot Noir Réserve, Trimbach

The Society’s Vin d’Alsace

Zind, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Terroir des Châteaux Forts, Domaine Rolly-Gassmann

Pinot Blanc, Trimbach

Riesling Collection, Kuentz-Bas

Pinot Gris Tradition, Hugel

Gewurztraminer, Léon Beyer

Pinot Gris, Léon Beyer

Pinot Gris Altenbourg, Domaine Weinbach

Klevner, Domaine Mochel

KB, Kuentz-Bas

ref AS-MX14111

£99

£159

£139

ALSACE 2012B A L A N C E , F R E S H N E S S A N D P U R I T Y

OUR AWARD-WINNING RANGE

STARTS AT £6.95 PER BOTTLE

NEW Pinot Gris Altenbourg, Domaine WeinbachAltenbourg is a continuation of the Schlossberg vineyard but with heavier soils, which are better suited to pinot gris and gewurz. This is creamy, fragrant and heady with hints of bread, toffee, perhaps even truffle. 2015 to 2025. 14.5%ref AS-AL11141 £37 bottle £444 dozen

NEW Pinot Gris Jubilee, HugelVery fine pinot gris in the best Alsace tradition: rich, aromatic and full-flavoured, buttery and complex with just a touch of residual sweetness. The finish is long and dry. 2015 to 2022. 13.5%ref AS-AL10971 £22 bottle £264 dozen

HOW TO BUY ALSACE FOR OUR GUIDE VISITTHEWINESOCIETY.COM/HOWTOBUY

£55

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2012 is a rare year to be cherished in Alsace when all seven main grapes flourished. The gewurztraminers are rich and flavoursome and, pleasingly, also tend to be a touch less alcoholic than usual. Rieslings are very fine: upright with clean, pure lines. Pinots of all colours were successful; indeed 2012 is a very good vintage for Alsace reds with an increasing number of growers able to present wines of real interest. Muscat, very much a minority grape in Alsace, doesn’t always shine; in 2012 it does!

The Wine Society’s Alsace selection has won many awards over the years and we are pleased to have extended our range this year. I have always wanted to include top-quality sylvaner, for example, and think I have found one from Boeckel in Mittelbergheim. Also we are pleased to be offering a succulent gewurz from Michel Ginglinger for the first time, another one of the many fine producers from the village of Eguisheim.

Despite the many successes, 2012 was in fact a challenging year for Alsace growers. It had started with a short period of intense cold in February, then spring began mildly but finished cold, especially during flowering, which delayed growth. August was very hot but was mercifully followed by a cooler September. Tasting the vintage during a hectic week in February made me realise that the quality and potential of the vintage changed quite markedly from village to village and that is reflected in the choice of wines for this offer.

The four mixed cases highlight the many delights available, from a spicy all-gewurztraminer selection and a grand cru celebration to an all-bases-covered mixed assortment.

Marcel Orford-Williams Society Buyer

ALSACE 2012

The Society’s range of Alsace wines was voted the country’s finest by the IWC (International Wine Challenge) in 2013, for the sixth consecutive year.

Most Alsace wines are marketed by grape variety but many producers also make a blend and these can be both fascinating and very good value for money as well as excellent all-rounders with food.

The Society’s Vin d’AlsaceThis is the standard bearer for Alsace and made for us by Hugel, one of the top houses dating back to 1639. The blend has a base of sylvaner and pinot blanc, but includes a proportion of the noble varieties riesling and pinot gris with a little each of gewurztraminer and muscat. It is dry, fruity and full-flavoured, and is delicious with food or without. 12.5% ref AS-AL49161 £8.50 bottle £102 dozen

KB, Kuentz-Bas A rather delicious blend made from sylvaner and pinot blanc with a little chasselas and muscat. Fine, dry and delicate. 12.5%ref AS-AL10951 £8.50 bottle £102 dozen

CHASSELAS AND SYLVANERSylvaner is in danger of dying out yet it produces clean, distinctive, food-friendly wines and for the first time we’ve sourced one from the grand cru Zotzenberg vineyard. Chasselas is something of an oddity in its pure state, and more closely associated with Switzerland, but makes pleasantly dry and fruity wines in Alsace and André Kientzler’s is a fine example.

NEW Chasselas, Domaine André KientzlerThe chasselas grape has become rare in Alsace yet this old variety used to be much planted. Domaine Kientzler have a patch of very old vines and they are quite rightly reluctant to replace them. The wine is dry, very light, clean and refreshing. 11.5% ref AS-AL11171 £9.50 bottle £114 dozen

NEW Sylvaner Grand Cru Zotzenberg, Domaine BoeckelFrom the only grand cru sylvaner site, in the pretty village of Mittelbergheim in the north, this is a dry, characterful and full-flavoured white. Somewhat apple-like in flavour. Now to 2018. 13.5% ref AS-AL11381 £19 bottle £228 dozen

MUSCAT Encountering this quintessentially Mediterranean variety for the first time in Alsace always comes as a surprise. But it definitely makes wines of real interest here. Typically the wines are dry, fragrant and delicate, lovely with fresh asparagus, shellfish and Oriental cuisine.

Muscat Réserve, Trimbach Delectable dry muscat, feather light and a perfect fragrant aperitif. Try with asparagus tips or dim sum. Now to 2017. 12.5% ref AS-AL10851 £12.50 bottle £150 dozen

NEW Muscat Grand Cru Saering, Domaine Dirler-Cadé Exquisite grand cru muscat, delicate, dry and perfectly balanced. Fragrant and grapy yet also very refined. This would work well with steamed fish maybe with a little coriander. Now to 2017. 13.5% ref AS-AL11121 £19 bottle £228 dozen

Riesling may well have originated in Alsace and was often known here as the ‘King of Grapes’. It has the ability of expressing clearly the attributes of where it is grown and for this reason alone is usually planted on the best slopes.

Riesling Collection, Kuentz-BasA lovely dry riesling, elegant and fine with a touch of gentility. Great length and purity of fruit here; just needs a Dover sole to go with it. Now to 2018. 13% ref AS-AL11251 £11.50 bottle £138 dozen

Riesling, Léon Beyer An outstanding example of bone-dry riesling, full-flavoured in the Alsace style. This has concentration and great length of flavour. Now to 2018. 12.5%ref AS-AL11271 £12.50 bottle £150 dozen

Terroir des Châteaux Forts, Domaine Rolly-GassmannA full-flavoured white where the auxerrois grape is dominant but with the flavour strongly influenced by gewurztraminer. Off-dry, savoury and rich with freshness and lift on the finish. Drink this year and next. 12.5%ref AS-AL11161 £10.95 bottle £131 dozen

Zind, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht This is an exciting blend of two-thirds chardonnay with auxerrois. It is the rich flavour of the latter that really shines through. Chardonnay is only usually planted in Alsace for sparkling wine, so this is labelled a mere ‘table wine’, but don’t be fooled by this humble classification: it is well worth your attention. Drink this year and next. 12.5% ref AS-AL11081 £14.50 bottle £174 dozen

Riesling Réserve, TrimbachTrimbach have recently expanded their vineyard holdings and this is reflected in the quality of this Réserve riesling. It comes from in and around Ribeauvillé and is one of the best-value rieslings around, this is a wine that keeps well too. Now to 2021. 13%ref AS-AL11461 £14.95 bottle £179 dozen

NEW Riesling Grand Cru Pfersigberg, Kuentz-BasPfersigberg is one of the better grand cru vineyards, delivering wines with great elegance balanced by attractive freshness. This comes from Kuentz-Bas’ own vineyards and in this vintage produced wines with great charm and length. Exquisite. Now to 2025. 13.5% ref AS-AL11281 £22 bottle £264 dozen

Riesling Les Ecaillers, Léon BeyerThough never indicated on the label, the origin of this superb riesling is the grand cru Pfersigberg in Eguisheim. Dry, full-bodied with plenty of character and a fine aptitude for food matching. Now to 2026. 12.5%ref AS-AL11111 £23 bottle £276 dozen

Riesling Clos Hauserer, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht The clos comes from deep soils just below the grand cru Hengst vineyard and it always produces exceptionally good rieslings with an aptitude for ageing. Dry, rich, dense and very long, this is fabulous and one to keep. 2015 to 2026. 12.5%ref AS-AL11001 £24.50 bottle £294 dozen

Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg Cuvée Sainte-Catherine, Domaine WeinbachConcentrated, full-flavoured riesling of the highest quality. Purity of fruit and great length. Now to 2025. 13.5%ref AS-AL11241 £39 bottle £468 dozen

2012 is yet again a good vintage for this quintessential Alsace grape variety. The wines are powerful and ripe yet have underlying freshness which makes them very attractive indeed.

Gewurztraminer Tradition, Cave de TurckheimThis is a great example of Alsace gewurztraminer at its simplest. Tangy tropical fruit flavours with a touch of spice and good length. 13%ref AS-AL10731 £8.95 bottle £107 dozen

Gewurztraminer, Domaine Bruno SorgFrançois Sorg makes a lovely gewurz, all tropical fruit flavours with a little sweetness and some freshness too. His 2012 is quite delicious. Now to 2018. 13%ref AS-AL11131 £11.50 bottle £138 dozen

BLENDS

GEWURZTRAMINERGewurztraminer, Domaine Zind-HumbrechtThis came from old vines from the Wintzenheim part of the Herrenberg slope and in this vintage was fermented fully dry. Full spicy fruit with plenty of character and length. Now to 2019. 14%ref AS-AL10211 £11.95 bottle £143 dozen Gewurztraminer, TrimbachA fruity, dry-style gewurz, elegant with a slightly peppery finish which is satisfyingly long. Now to 2019. 14%ref AS-AL11071 £12.95 bottle £155 dozen

Gewurztraminer, Léon BeyerAnother dry-style gewurz, this is characterful, rich, spice laden and long. Would be lovely with Asian cooking or strong cheese. Now to 2018. 13.5%ref AS-AL11301 £13.95 bottle £167 dozen

NEW Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Pfersigberg, Domaine GinglingerThis is our first purchase from this fine estate based in Eguisheim. A late-harvest style gewurz, sweet, rich, peachy and quite splendid. Now to 2019. 13% ref AS-AL11361 £18 bottle £216 dozen

Gewurztraminer Folastries, Josmeyer Richly flavoured gewurz in a dry style with plenty of character, spice and a wonderfully long finish. Needs a bit longer but will be perfect with Asian food. 2015 to 2022. 13.5%ref AS-AL11051 £19 bottle £228 dozen

NEW Gewurztraminer Jubilee, HugelThough not stated on the label, the gewurz Jubilee always comes from Hugel’s own holdings at the heart of the grand cru Sporen vineyard in Riquewihr, a gentle south-east-facing slope of deep clay famous for its long-lived gewurztraminers. The 2012 is rich and full-flavoured yet wonderfully elegant. 2015 to 2023. 14% ref AS-AL10981 £22 bottle £264 dozen

NEW Gewurztraminer Cuvée Laurence, Domaine WeinbachWonderfully poised gewurz from one of the great estates. Rich, creamy and succulent. Now to 2020. 14%ref AS-AL11491 £29.50 bottle £354 dozen

NEW Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim, Domaine Rolly-GassmannRegarded by some as one of the great vineyards of Alsace, the Altenberg de Bergheim excels in producing rich, creamy gewurztraminers. Rolly-Gassmann is new here and this is their first grand cru, and it’s brilliantly peachy, with apricot and cream in a late harvest style. Now to 2024. 13.5%ref AS-AL11401 £30 bottle £360 dozen

NEW Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Hengst, Domaine Zind-HumbrechtA fabulously rich, opulent gewurz from the great Hengst vineyard, one of the finest grand cru slopes in Alsace. Already showing exceptional depth of flavour, this will gain in complexity over many years. 2016 to 2028. 15%ref AS-AL11291 £35 bottle £420 dozen

RIESLING

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