Abbazia di Novacella Gewürztraminer 2003, Italy, The nose has incredible floralness, and in the glass you’ll find rose petals as well minerality, very pretty melon fruit and acidity so crisp it almost slaps you in the face. (This isn’t the gewürztraminer your mother use to drink). A must try with spicy Asian foods. (Mike Parres, K&L), $24.99 Note: unable to determine if they produce Gewurztraminer 11/29/04

Adler Fels 2003 Gewurztraminer, Russian River, California Note: Website domain name expired 11/16/04

*Alexander Valley Vineyards, New Gewurz 2003,  North Coast Gewürztraminer.12% alc., SANTA ROSA PRESS DEMOCRAT, PAIRING, by Michele Anna Jordan, 7-14-04 "Our Wine of the Week, 2003 North Coast New Gewurz from Alexander Valley Vineyards reveals a stroke of brillance before you even reach for a corkscrew.....As a varietal name, gewurztraminer presents a substantial hurdle for the novice, so calling this wine New Gewurz is like hanging a neon sign declaring "all are welcome." Once inside, you will be neither intimidated nor disappointed. The wine is, in a word, lovely. Although the fruit is ripe, with flavors that unfold in layers of ruby grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, green melon, ripe Comice pears and guava, it is not challenging. Little aromas of rose petals and honeysuckle rise from the wine like morning fog, ephemral and fleeting. Yet New Gewurz does not demand that you ponder its complexity, nor does it insist upon a narrow range of foods to show it off to it's best effect. Instead, it offers simple refreshing pleasure, with a range of subtleties that you can focus on or not." Four Stars and Wine of the Week. This vintage is sold out at the winery. But the 2004 New Gewurz is available now! $9.99 ($7.99) Otto's MF 111104. 

Alois Lageder Alto Adige Gewurztraminer 2003, $15.99

Alpen Cellars Gewürztraminer 2003 A spicy floral aroma hinting of tangerine is followed by ripe pink grapefruit and light orange flavors that finish off this tangy wine.

Amor-Bendall Gisborne Gewürztraminer 2003 (sc) Lots of sweet musky stonefruits on the nose, it seems a little dilute in the palate first up. An off-dry wine with apples, lychees, rich musky flavors and a spicy finish. It makes me look forward to summer. A care-free wine, chill it to the max and enjoy with Thai. Very user-friendly. 13.5% alc. ***1/2 21Aug2003.
There's a distinguishing yeasty character in all the Amor-Bendall wines, which makes them easy to spot in blind tastings. I can smell it straight away on the nose while in the palate it is honeyed and mellow wine with a spicy finish. 13.4% alc. $22. Sue Courtney 22Aug2004.

Anderson Valley Estate Vineyard Gewürztraminer 2003, Delicately perfumed with rose, orange blossoms, and sun-warmed melon, this wine fills the mouth with flavors of citrus and spice. A natural with mildly spicy grilled Thai curries and sauces. $14.75

Angels Gate Winery 2003 Gewurztraminer

*Avery Lane 2003 Gewurztraminer, Washington, $7, 12.4% alc.; The floral and lemon aromas of this wine are a beautiful introduction to the lychee and spice in the palate. This wine finishes clean and crisp.

Banyan Wines Gewürztraminer 2003, Monterey County, 12.6% alc.

Paul Blanck 2003 Gewurztraminer, 13% alc., Winery Tasting note: Appearance: Pale golden yellow, gold tint, very shiny. Nose: Firstly, shows fruity and floral aromas of very ripe lychee and rose, then goes mineral and slightly smokey. Palate: After a supple attack, the wine proves to be fleshy and thick in the mouth. The acidity is masked, the impression of freshness underlined by the wine's spiciness, which balances its rippling structure. A pleasant dry finale. Tasted in June 2004 by Isabelle Samson, trainee oenologist at Domaine Paul Blanck.

Bookwalter 2003 Columbia Valley Gewurztraminer The vineyard sources for this wine are located in the Columbia and Yakima Valley Appellations. 53% Lewis & Clark and 47% Zillah Bluffs. Final Blend - 100% Gewurztraminer (unlike 2002 vintage). Bottled Alcohol: 13.7%; Production: 662 cases; Winery Tasting Notes: The 2003 Gewurztraminer is a fruit driven, off dry wine that offers aromas of rose petals, grapefruits, cloves, tamarind and sweet melons. Flavors of pears, bananas and caramel are followed by a brisk, refreshing finish. Enjoy now through 2006. Just the second vintage of Gewurztraminer for Bookwalter, this wine is made in small quantities and is generally only available through specialty wine shops, restaurants, the winery tasting room and wine lounge.

* (2) Bridgeview Winery 2003 Gewurztraminer, Winemaker's Notes: This unique varietal is showcased here in an Alsatian off-dry style. Spicy and flavorful with a touch of sweetness, this estate grown wine makes a delightful accompaniment to spicy cuisine.12.5% alc. $7.99 SENOCO 111604

*Carlson Vineyards Colorado Gewürztraminer 2003, 12.5% alc, $12.99 BRENG 103004

*(1) Chateau Ste. Michelle 2003 Gewurztraminer,  Columbia Valley, Washington; winemaker's notes: "The Gewurztraminer is a reliable favorite from Chateau Ste. Michelle. It is amazingly aromatic and exhibits the classic lychee 12.0% alc., $8.99 ($7.99) OTTOSMF 111104, (1) D111304

Chateau St. Jean Sonoma County Gewurztraminer 2003, $10.99, Released in March 2004! Perfume, acacia flowers and exotic spices leap from the nose of this classic Gewürztraminer. A rich, medium - bodied entry fills the palate with flavors of jasmine, orange zest and melon and lead into a surprisingly clean and refreshing long citrus finish. Reviews: Ocean Drive Magazine "Let’s raise a glass of Gewürztraminer to Margo Van Staaveren, who just released her ’03 to mark her first vintage in her new role. The elusive perfume – she says acacia, some say violets – prepares your palate for the orange zest, melon and citrus flavors, just off-dry and ready for Asian food, among other things." July 2004. Retrospective Reviews: Wine Advocate "The exotic, essentially dry, light to medium-bodied, spicy 2001 Gewürztraminer is a pure rose water and lychee nut." (Robert M. Parker, Jr.) August 31, 2002. $15. Review: A simple quaffer on the sweet side. Flavors of peach, nectarine, pine and citrus peel. Creamy texture.

Clairborne & Churchill Central Coast Dry Gewurztraminer 2003, Winery Notes:  The 2003 Gewurztraminer is already one of our favorite vintages. It is incredibly rich on the palate, with smooth ripe apricot and kumquat flavors that are enhanced by balanced acidity and a minimum of residual sugar (barely 0.3%). The aromatics of this young wine are absolutely stunning, suggesting lychee, carnation and cardamom, and as our experience with Gewurztraminer has shown, we expect this wine to develop more intensity in the bottle over the next 18-24 months. $14.39

Colterenzio Gewurztraminer Cornell White 2003, Produced by Colterenzio, the Gewurztraminer Cornell White is an excellent Gewurztraminer. From the Alto Adige Trentino Alto Adige area of Italy, this Gewurztraminer features a Dry taste and White color. The grapes which produce this pure Gewurztraminer are grown at Girlan. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a constant temperature of 18° C and the young wine is matured in bottle for 6 months before release. It is seductive, golden yellow in colour with a stunning, classic Gewurztraminer aroma reminiscent of cinnamon, nutmeg and fresh rose petals, rich and concentrated on the palate, grapey, spicy, supple, almost creamy with fine acidity and excellent length. Alcohol 14.13 % Vol.

        Classic label - This wine is the result of a rigorous selection of Gewurztraminer grapes grown in vineyards in the hilly landscape of Girlan and Eppan. The juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks at a constant 18° C, after which the new wine is left to mature together with the fine lees. Seductively and delicately aromatic on the nose with a hint of spice and stimulating aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and fresh rose petals, on the palate it is full, rich, round and long. Gewurztraminer is South Tyrol’s best known native grape variety by far, and is now planted and loved all over the world. It appears in a variety of styles, from flowery, delicate cool region wines to rich, spicy, lychee-flavoured warm climate versions. Our ‘Klassiker’ from the cool hills of Ãœberetsch is elegant, perhaps feminine in style and never cloying. Alcohol 13.9 % Vol.

       Grappa version - Our two grappa, one distilled from Pinot Noir and one from Gewurztraminer grape pomace, are the result of a successful joint-venture with a local family-run distillery of great tradition. Both grappas are made from selected grape pomace which is transferred to the distillery immediately after the vinification process. The grappa are produced with the use of a traditional distilling plant including “bain-marieâ€� boilers. Prior to release, the grappas age for approximately 6 months in our cellar. The colour is brilliant and crystal-clear, the bouquet is typical, subtle and fragrant while the taste is concentrated and well-balanced. Two grappa of great finesse. alcohol: 42% Vol. Note: "Grappa is a traditional Italian drink, made from the leftover skins and seeds of grapes used for wine. This is called the "Pomacy" or "Pomace". The Pomace is fermented and distilled in its natural state. The result is around 90 proof and clear in color. Grappa is also known by other names. It is called Marc in France, Aguardiente in Spain and Portugal, and in Germany it's known as Tresterschnapps." Note source: About.com

Coopers Creek Gisborne Gewürztraminer 2003 (sc) Very pale in color with shy, delicate aromas of spice and damask rose and pungent flavors of lychee juice, tangelos, musky rose and sweet spices, it's just off-dry in sweetness. Screwcap. $16. Sue Courtney 3Jul2003.

*Covey Run Gewürztraminer 2003, Washington State, 12.5% alc.

Crossroads Destination Series Gewurztraminer 2003, Lifted aromas of spicy lime and lychee combine with floral and ginger notes to give the pronounced and distinctive flavors typical of Gewurztraminer. Delicately structured, the natural low acidity combined with a touch of residual sugar give a silky textured mouthfeel and a high degree of drinkability. Although capable of increasing in complexity and roundness in the short term, this is a wine style best consumed within 2-3 years of harvest. The cool growing season of the 2002 vintage very much favored aromatic varieties such as Gewurztraminer. After limited skin contact the juice was cool fermented with a specialty yeast renowned for its ability to enhance the naturally aromatic fruit flavors. Low acids and a touch of residual sugar has given this wine a rich mouthfilling texture and provides the perfect accompaniment to spicy Asian food. Early bottling has ensured the retention of maximum fruit freshness. $18.95

Domaine de Chaberton VQA 2003 Gewurztraminer, Okanagan Valley, $11,  Canadian, This light white wine has an intense floral bouquet with spicy overtones - a delight to the eye, nose and palate. As a bonus there are subtle citrus flavours with hints of black pepper and spice. Food Pairings: This is a favorite with chicken, fish, oriental and spicy meals. It is one of those special wines that make the colours of a sunset better, turns a soft summer breezes into a caress, and lends an appreciation to wonderful things in life."...makes for a lovely wine for Shanghai-noodle salads or fresh fish." (Jurgen Gothe, The Georgia Straight)

Dry River Gewürztraminer 2003 It's lifted and aromatically spicy on the nose with ginger spice and musk dominating the fragrance. It's seems like there are more lemony characters in this than the others (in a vertical tasting of DR Gwtz), it's a low acid wine so put it down to youth, phenolics and the vintage. There's a sweet floral honeyed character and a sweet tangelo influence with cinnamon and clove lingering. The texture is like satin, just gorgeous. 13% alc. Sue Courtney 13Mar2004. Note: no company website as of 11/24/04

Enate Gewürztraminer. Vintage: ? Tasting Notes: The Gewürztraminer grape produces some of the greatest Alsace wines. It is also perfectly adapted to our ENATE vineyards. "Gewürz" means spicy, and its characteristic is amply present in this wine. The bouquet is complex and exuberant, full of tones of honey and flowers (roses). On the palate it is chewy, with sweet nuances showing, especially in its aftertaste although the wine is dry. Serving Suggestions: 8-10 °C. Macedonias, strong cheeses and foie-gras. Viñedos y Crianzas del Alto Aragón Gewürztraminer Somontano Enate 2003, $18

Erin Glenn 2003 Celilo Vineyard Gewurztraminer, Appellation: Washington. One of the Columbia Gorge's newest wineries, Erin Glenn has a first release that is a huge success. Erin Glenn is in The Dalles, Ore., and it reached across the Columbia River to one of Washington's top vineyards for this spectacular Gewurztraminer. It reveals aromas of grapefruit, cloves, rosewater, kumquats and pears and rich flavors of grapefruits and Mandarin oranges. Amazing acidity keeps this wine refreshing and clean. Rated "Outstanding" by Wine Press Northwest magazine. Price: $13. Erin Glenn is a new winery with limited distribution. Food matches: Pair this delicious Gewurztraminer with turkey, ham or scallops. Erin Glenn Vineyards, 3511 Sandlin Road, The Dalles, OR 97058, 541-296-4707. Until this summer 2004, Celilo Vineyard wasn't in an appellation. Now, one of Washington's finest vineyards is in the new Columbia Gorge American Viticultural Area. Note: no company website as of 11/23/04

Evesham Wood “Le Puits Sec” Willamette Valley Gewürztraminer 2003 ($13.95),  found slightly sweeter fruit and a little less acidity (than the Henry Estate Umpqua Valley Dry Gewürztraminer 2000).  It was nice to go back and forth between the two styles, appreciating the differences, but enjoying how well both went with the food. Source

Fenn Valley Gewürztraminer 2003, 6130 122nd Avenue, Fennville, MI 49408; has plenty of spice and fruit. The aroma is a citrus-spice with clove and green apple. The mouthfeel is soft with a citrus-spice character that finishes with honey and cedar. Serve with spicy foods such as Indian curries, Mexican, or Thai (anyplace that you would serve beer).

*Fetzer Vineyards Valley Oaks Gewurztraminer 2003, Echo Ridge, California, 12% alc., PS $6.99, 110104. Summary of winery notes: Fruit was sourced primarily from select growing regions in Monterey, Santa Barbara and Mendocino counties harvested through late September at an average 23.5 deg. Brix. Wine is a deep golden straw color, with a nose of dried apricot, spicy peach, with a touch of rose petal and honeysuckle. In the mouth, crisp green apple, honeyed apricot and peach flavors meld with the traditional spicy flavors. It's a medium-bodied, off-dry style. Key varietals: Gewurztraminer 80%, Muscat 20%. Release date: Feb 2004. $6.99. Review: A sweeter style of wine. Aromas and flavors of peach, nectarine and ripe apple. Nice complexity.

Firelands Wine Company Gewürztraminer 2003, Isle St. George, Ohio; Estate Bottled

*Firestone Santa Ynez Valley Gewurztraminer 2003, VRIBLU $9.99 111904; Tasting Notes: Our 2003 Gewürztraminer begins with a vivid bouquet of mandarin orange, rose petal and honey. Rich, elegant flavors of melon and pineapple are accompanied by accents of nutmeg and litchi. Crisp acidity strikes an exquisite balance with just a hint of sweetness and spice at the finish. 13.5% alc.

Fitz-Ritter 2003 Gewürztraminer Spätlese 2003, Spätlese, Pfalz,  $18.00; Although we make dry Gewürztraminer as well -- our single best selling bottle of wine in the US is the sweeter Gewürztraminer Spätlese. Try it with Fusion, Thai, Chinese and all other Asian foods -- anything with spices and fruits and tangy flavors. It is truly a favorite.

Thomas Fogarty 2003 Monterey Gewürztraminer,  Central Coast, California, $12.99

Forrest Estate Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2003 (sc) Pale lemon, and powerfully pungent in its varietal musk and old rose aromas, it’s laden with canned lychee juices, rose-flavored Turkish delight, lemon peel and aromatic spices. It’s not as oily as some gewurz’s and seems fairly dry but a sweetness emerges as it lingers. Very pure gewurz with a fragrant powdery finish. Screwcap. 13.5% alc. $24.95. AirNZ Gold Medal tasting. Sue Courtney 26Nov2003.

    Winery Notes:  The 2003 Gewurztraminer is very much the traditional Forrest style - intensely perfumed, rich in alcohol and weighty on the palate. It abounds on the nose and in the mouth with flavours of tropical fruits - lychee and ginger; exotic spices - cloves and cinnamon and of course Turkish delight. A mouthfilling, very ripe tasting wine with a nice balance of gentle acidity and residual fruit sweetness (12 g/l). I prefer to serve it chilled as an aperitif with soft cheeses. pH 3.29 T.A. 4.8g/l Residual Sugar 10g/l Alcohol 13.2%

Francis-Cole 2003 Marlborough Gewürztraminer, Not since the memorable 1998 release have we had Gewürztraminer in the cellar, albeit in small quantities. This wine has a delicate aroma with a generous richness of fruit. Soft esters of pineapple and tropical fruit entice the nose. The palate is warm, with texture, softness and finishing touches of spice. Winemaking: Cool fermented with yeasts promoting diverse and fruity aromas. Fermented to dry. Release Date: September 2003; Availability: Until May 2005. St Francis Marlborough Gewurztraminer 1998.

Gundlach Bunds Estate Specialty Gewurztraminer Rhinefarm Vineyard 2003- Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (8/25/2004) $22 ex cellars. This off-dry Gewurtz is probably the best I've had from the New World, bringing together really pretty Gewurtz fruit with a hint of grassiness and impeccable balance. Works equally well by itself or with food. Vivid. Very Good+.$18.99; Review: A feminine wine, lively and fresh. Bright fruit flavors of peach, nectarine, pineapple and guava. Winery Notes: The assertive aromas of this Alsatian-style Gewurztraminer are reminiscent of allspice, quince and citrus blossom, leading to full-flavored lychee and tangerine notes on the palate. Full-bodied, dry and spicy, this wine contains enough bright acidity to pair with a wide variety of cuisine including: Thai, Chinese, Indian, and Pacific Rim. A classic pairing with turkey, ham and sausage, the Gewurztraminer also holds its own as an aperitif.

Hess Estates Review: A rich, softer style of gewürztraminer. Appealing aromas and flavors of peach, nectarine, kiwi, honey and rose petal. $16.

J. Hofstätter Gewurztraminer Kolbenhof 2003, Produced by Hofstatter, J, Italy, the Gewurztraminer Kolbenhof is an excellent Gewurztraminer. From the Alto Adige Trentino Alto Adige area of Italy, this Gewurztraminer features a Dry taste and White color. This Gewürztraminer is made from a selection of grapes from our Kolbenhof estate above Tramin. The vine is named after its home town, Tramin and it is precisely in our Kolbenhof estate that it finds the optimum growing conditions to develop its noble characteristics. The Kolbenhof vineyard is one of South Tyrol's grand crus for Gewürztraminer. A copybook Gewürztraminer characterized almost entirely by fruit. Deep golden yellow in colour with green reflexes, on the nose it is reminiscent of ripe apricot and peach intermingled with exotic fruits such as lychee, mango and passion fruit. The fruit characteristics follow through on the palate enlivened by firm acidity, adding a dimension of elegance and balancing the wine's almost over-opulent concentration. Enormous length. One or two years' bottle-ageing will enable it to develop even more intensity and complexity. GOES ESPECIALLY WELL WITH: This wine is delicious enjoyed in solitude, though it is perfect to accompany shellfish, oysters or foie gras, or used in the preparation of full flavoured fish dishes.

*Hogue Columbia Valley Gewurztraminer Washington 2003, JOS124 $9.99 111904 Review: A good summer sipper. Flavors of peach and spice. A sweeter, uncomplicated style. Good with Thai food.

*Huia Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2003, New Zealand, It's a soft style, luscious in its texture, lots of clove, spice and musk, quite dry and floral but with the sweetness of juicy rockmelon and tropical fruit lingering. A big wine, it definitely needs food. Sue Courtney  11Nov2003.
A drier styled handicapped a little in this tasting by following a sweet, delicate Riesling. Oily in appearance, perfumed musky aromas state the variety well and there's rose oil richness in the palate but it seems quite extracted, phenolic and unbalanced with a hard, nutty, bitter lemon finish. It simply did not deliver tonight. 13.5% alc. $25.95.Sue Courtney 28Apr2004. (VRIBLU $15.99 111904)

    Winemakers’ Notes: On the nose, spices and floral scents abound. This is an aromatic, full-flavored wine, showing ripe melon, lychee, ginger, and nutmeg on the palate. The balance and depth of the palate support a long, dry finish. This wine is drinking well now, and will age beautifully for up to 8-10 years. Serve between 50-54 degrees F. Huia Gewürztraminer is delicious with: terrines and pâtés, Thai food, mild curries, smoked seafood and meats, soy honey duck, creamy blue cheeses and aged cheddar. The 2003 Gewürztraminer comes from two vineyard sites: The Reed vineyard in the upper Wairau Valley (a cooler site) and the Traminer-View vineyard in the lower Wairau Valley. The two vineyards supply Huia with a combination of six Gewürztraminer cultivars. Vinification: The grapes were hand picked and crushed. They went through a natural yeast fermentation in stainless steel tanks. A small portion of the wine (less than 2%) was fermented in barrels for three months. The wine was bottled August 8th, 2003. 

    Rockmelon: Australian for the English - cantaloupe or musk melon.

Hunter's Gewurztraminer 2003 Wonderful winemaking from Jane Hunter that combines the aromatics of the Gewurztraminer grape variety with lovely poise and elegance.

Husch Vineyards Gewürztraminer 2003 , Anderson Valley, $11.99; This Mendocino Gewurzt is fresh and delicate, full of fruit, with a distinctive spiciness and a finish that flirts with total dryness. Traditional Gewurztraminer notes of peach, pineapple, rose petals, citrus rind, and honeysuckle grace the nose in this vintage. The aromatics develop quickly in the glass and unveil floral and mineral nuances. The flavors are as vivid as the aromas with apricot, lime, and honeysuckle. Unlike many overly-sweet Gewurztraminers, this wine offers just a touch of sugar and a crisp finish that leaves the mouth refreshed. This wine drinks nicely young but has the structure to support an additional year or two of aging. 13.6% alc.; Review: Sauvignon blanc style, with refreshing grapefruit and lime flavors. Notes of pear, apricot and melon. Tangy finish.

Johanneshof Gewürztraminer 2003 - Marlborough Very pale in color. Unmistakable to the variety with its perfumed rose petal bouquet and wonderful concentration of flavor with attar of rose, lychee and Turkish delight to the fore. It's slightly sweetish, rich and textural with fabulous mouthfeel, terrific balance and immense concentration. Pink smoker lollies and exotic spices with just a hint of anise linger with nectarine on the luscious finish. A fantastic wine - Gewürztraminer made just the way I like it. 13% alc. Sue Courtney 8Oct2003.
Perfumed on nose, rich and unctuous in the palate. Good weight, lovely texture, Ripe peaches, honey, rose petal and musk. Developing some oiliness. Still growing in power, a lovely, lovely wine. 13% alc. 11Feb2004.
Straw gold. Rich and spicy, off dry with loads of freshly squeezed orange, passion fruit flavors, coriander spice and pink smoker lolly flavors in the oily textured palate. Quite citrussy overall but very concentrated with excellent luscious factor as it lingers with its musky, exotic spices. 13% alc. Sue Courtney 12May2004.

    Review: Top tip: Pronounced, lifted, floral nose as would be expected from good Gewurztraminer. A weighty, quite rich and buttery wine that would be something special. Serve chilled -- TiZwine.com Tasting Panel

     Winemaker Note: Medium, spicy wine. Bouquet of rose petals, lychees and ginger. Big, full and luscious palate of Turkish delight cloves and marzipan with a rich, velvety, long finish. Drink now or cellar until 2010.

    What are "lollies" or a "lollie"? Lollipops! These  lollies are a treat for the eyes as well as the tastbuds. They are a delicately swirled mixture of flavor and creaminess; some flavors: Blueberry Cream, Cherry Cream, Cotton Candy, Raspberry Cream, Root Beer Float, and Strawberry Cream. Tropical Mix lollipops! Such as: Banana, Pina Colada, Orange Creme, Key Lime Pie, Tangerine, and Mango; just to name a few.

    Passion fruit - An egg-shaped tropical fruit that is also called a purple granadilla, the passion fruit has a brittle, wrinkled purple-brown rind enclosing flesh-covered seeds, something like a pomegranate (granadilla means "little pomegranate" in Spanish). The seeds are edible so you can eat the orange pulp straight from the shell. Passion fruit is more commonly sieved and its highly aromatic pulp and juice are used as a flavoring for beverages and sauces. The two main commercial varieties are Passiflora edulis L. a purple fruit and P. edulis f. flavicarpa a yellow variety. Australia is the largest single market for passion fruit and the bulk is used for blending with other juices and in softdrinks

Kathy Lynskey Wines, Ltd., 2003 Gewurztraminer, Marlborough, New Zealand, Single Vineyard.

Lawson's Dry Hills Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2003, (sc) A little shy on those nose, this is a richly concentrated, weighty wine with powerful flavors of citrus, musk, lychees and rose petals, perhaps not as good as last years but it is early days yet. The finish is long and complex. 14% alc. ***Sue Courtney 1/2 21Aug2003.
Still drinking well a year on from vintage, spicy, citrussy, and well-balanced with a hot, smoky, full-bodied, richly textured musky finish. Great length and a pleasing musky aftertaste. Sue Courtney 22Aug2004. 

    Winery Notes: Both the Lawson and the Woodward Gewürztraminer vineyards, are situated close to the winery with similar deep clay soils. The Lawson vineyard originally planted by Ross and Barbara Lawson in the early 80's, now has a combination of 20-year-old Gewürztraminer and younger vines. The Woodward vineyard is in its fourth year. An older clone with very small, flavor-packed berries has been planted in both cases. Total Production: 1,420 cases;  Harvest Dates: April 25-29, 2003. 

Legends Estates 2003 Gewurztraminer

Londer Vineyards' 2003 Dry Gewürztraminer, Tasting notes: lychee, with exotic Asian pear spice and white peach, and cracked white pepper on the nose. Traces of night blooming jasmine on the palate. Crisp with good acid balance hold it together from front to back. Cracked pepper shows up again on the back end along with grapefruit. Technical Data: Picked at 26.2 Brix; 159 cases bottled with: Alcohol-13.71 pH-3.09 RS-0.129% TA-6.52

Longview Estate Gewürztraminer 2003  - This wine has a perfume of rose petals. The palate is deliciously soft and exhibits spicy flavours with a dry finish. Enjoy now or allow to develop complexity over the next two years. NZ$22.00

Luna (Moon) Beberide Young Gewürztraminer 2003, Madrid, Spain; Pale yellow color with green irisaciones, brilliant and limpio. Fragante, very intense aromas of fresh tropical fruits, handle, maracullá. Flora...

Madroña Vineyards Gewurztraminer 2003, Modeled after the dry, full-bodied Gewürztraminers of Alsace, our version consistently exhibits an intense rose-petal character, accented by hints of citrus and spice. Our cool, high-elevation vineyards are well-suited to this variety and allow the grapes to achieve ripeness while retaining a balanced acidity.

Margrain Vineyard 2003 Gewurztraminer - a charming and beautiful variety and we class the 2003 as the most elegant and well bred we have produced to date. The sweet perfume of rose petal, pineapple and tinned lychee (cast your mind back to the '70s!) fill the senses and with the persuasiveness of a carpet salesman in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, welcomes the wine onto the palate. Here the succulent sweetness of fresh Turkish delight melds with the pliable texture of quince paste to produce tantalizing balance with a Moorish edge. While providing gorgeous drinking on release, a vertical tasting of our Gewurztraminers back to the inaugural 2000 (our reward for a tough '04 harvest!) showed the wines have good staying power. No Hurry. Harvest date: 28 April 2003; Cellaring: 3 to 5 years; 11.5% alc.

Matua Valley Wines Matua Judd Estate Series Gewurztraminer  2003  - Alcohol Content 12.5% ,  Tasting Notes The delicate light colour belies the heady aroma of rose petals and lychees. The palate is medium sweet but retains a freshness and pleasing acidity to balance the wine. Ripe and pure lychee, pear and rose petal flavours meld with the unmistakable richness of the variety. Cellaring Perfect for immediate consumption however further cellaring to 2008 will develop more mature characters. Food Match: Served with lychees stuffed with cream cheese and chopped crystallized ginger then topped with a macadamia nut, it is a memorable experience. Winemakers Notes The Estate Series of wines combine unique climatic and soil influences and are handcrafted to reflect the individuality of their sites. A floral spicily aromatic "Gewurzt" with a full bodied, rich palate which tastes of lychees on the finish.

Mills Reef Winery Reserve Gewurztraminer 2003, .13.5% alc . A powerful and richly varietal Gewurztraminer produced from Gisborne fruit. Ripe and weighty with citrus fruit and lychee characters. Beautifully perfumed and intensely spicy. Well balanced and mouthfilling, this tightly structured wine will open out well and will reward careful cellaring.

Millton 2003 Growers Series Gewurztraminer McIldowie Vineyard. Not Organic. Gewürztraminer is very much at home in the rich clay soils of Gisborne. The early frosts of 2003 effected the flowering in such a way that it gave small bunches of tiny fully flavoured berries. The wine has fragrant aromatics of ginger and cloves. A clean, well-structured palate finishes with a full flavoured and warm lingering spicy taste. I want this wine to ooze deep spice and this classic Gewurztraminer is more linear than just plain fat. $20.00

Mission Estate Winery Estate Gewurztraminer 2003 - Alcohol 12.3%, VITICLUTURE : This wine had its source from Mission Estate's Church Road vineyards.  WINEMAKING ; We have achieved a soft style without bitterness by avoiding skin contact. Free run juice was included with soft press fraction and cold fermented using yeast strains especially suited to Gewurztraminer. There is some residual sugar to give a perfectly balanced wine. THE CHARACTERISTICS: The nose is spicy and aromatic - it has a typical floral Gewurztraminer bouquet. The palate is soft and medium bodied. It has moderately intense flavours that linger into a slightly sweet finish. CELLAR POTENTIAL: The wine will cellar well up to 2 years with the spice and tropical flavours becoming more intense.

Montana Patutahi Estate 'P' Gisborne Gewürztraminer 2003 Smoky, honeyed to the scent, spicy in the palate with soft acidity and good mouthfeel and weight. Lightly spicy with delicate tropical fruit lingering on the sweetish finish with a mellow character throughout. 13.5% alc. $26. Sue Courtney 22Aug2004.
Lemony, a little closed to the nose when first opened then just a few minutes later it becomes quite sweet smelling with a honey and lemon biscuit aroma. Sweetish to the taste, spicy with a toasty, warm grainy texture while apricot and orange linger on the long full-flavored finish. With my pork and yam casserole, however, the wine was too sweet for the food. 13.5% alc. Sue Courtney 9Sep2004.

Montinore Estate Gewurztraminer Reserve 2003 WINEMAKER'S NOTES: This Oregon Gewürztraminer Reserve has a sweet, floral aroma with beeswax, orange and brown sugar notes. The flavors are rich, fat and sweet, with citrus, brown sugar, orange rind and dry herb spices intermingled. The finish is long with floral-beeswax-orange notes. The wine is dry with a crisp acid frame. The texture is rich and soft with a distinct oiliness, a very rich and round mouthfeel. Montinore Gewürztraminer should be served slightly cold but not chilled; 55ºF to 60ºF would be reasonable. With its acidity and spiciness it would be a good accompaniment to seafood, white meats, bratwurst, sauerkraut, and glazed onion quiche. Fermented in oak barrels
• Alcoholic fermentation lasted 4 weeks with temperatures ranging from 70 to 87ºF
• After the alcoholic fermentation, the W27 barrel finished malolactic fermentation
• The wine stayed on the lees for 6 months with monthly stirring
• Cold stabilized and filtered, bottled on May 19, 2004
• Alcohol: 13.7%; $15

Montinore Estate 2003 Gewurztraminer, Willamette Valley,$9

Navarro Vineyards Estate Bottles Dry 2003 Gewurztraminer, Anderson Valley, Mendocino,  California. Winery Notes: Our favorite Gewürztraminers have a touch of "charcuterie," which is actually just a polite way of saying "dead yeast." As in Alsace, we ferment this wine in large oak ovals and let it rest on the lees, which are expired yeast, until we bottle seven months later but we've added a touch of Yankee ingenuity to the French tradition. We custom designed small stainless steel cooling panels for each oak oval since keeping fermenting wine cool also boosts aromatics. The aroma of dead yeast, by itself, may be unpleasant but mysteriously it enhances the alluring aromatics of Navarro's favorite grape. This bottling is our driest yet, with crisp quince, grapefruit and litchi flavors and aromas reminiscent of a summer picnic in the French countryside: sausage, pâté, warm bread, and ripe cheese. Harvested: Sept. 22 to Oct. 8, 2003; Bottled: May 5 to 11, 2004; 13.5% alc., Gold Medal winner. Best of Show.  (375 ml) - $10.00, (750 ml) - $17.00

Olssens 2003 Gewürztraminer, Central Otago - Vintage 2003 was another good year for Central Otago. The weather was good, the fruit quality was excellent and the wine flavors are represented quite nicely in the intensity of the wine. Vinification: Very ripe Gewurztraminer grapes were hand picked, destemmed and crushed into a bag press for pressing. The juice was left to cold settle for two days then racked, lees filtered and inoculated with yeast. 15% of the juice was fermented in 228-liter, old, French-made, oak barrels at 20 degrees C. 85% was tank fermented at 18 degrees C. The barrel portion was lees stirred weekly over three months to help increase the wines mouth feel and add complexity. The two batches were then racked, sulphur added, and blended. The wine was lightly fined, cold and protein stabilized prior to sterile filtration, and bottled in September of 2003.: Winemaker's Notes: A powerful nose full of lychees the wine is full bodied yet fresh in the mouth with delicious flavors lingering long after the wine is gone. This wonderful and elegant wine is superb served well chilled in a big glass with spicy entrees, including Thai or Indian curries. - Peter Bartle, Winemaker, 2003. Total Production: 400 cases; Harvested: Mid April 2003. 14% alc. $18

Peregrine Central Otago Gewürztraminer 2003 - A long drawn out autumn allowed for great flavour development, with harvesting decisions done purely on the flavour profile of each vineyards in the Gibbston and Lowburn areas. This wine displays the true spicy characteristics and lifted floral notes of a cool climate gewürztraminer. Complex fruit flavours and mouth-filling texture culminate in a lingering finish. Grapes100% Gewurztraminer, Alc/vol. 14.5%, Residual Sugar 10.0g/l, T/A 4.2g/l.

Robertson Winery Gewürztraminer 2003 Veritas 2003 - Bronze; Full bodied wine with honeysuckle and rose petals in bouquet. Rich and smooth with beautifully balanced sugar and acid give an extra interest by a touch of honeyed botrytis. Alc: 11.0

Rockburn Central Otago Gewürztraminer 2003 Watery pale, a drier style, lemony, a little nutty, it needs an awful lots of coaxing to reveal any distinctly varietal scents. Though dry there's a musky sweetness in the palate and the spicy richness we expect of this variety fills out and takes over on the lemony finish to linger nicely. Quite natural. Food friendly. 4 g/L residual sugar. 13.8% alc. $24.95. Sue Courtney 7Aug2004. 

    Winery Notes: has a fruit driven influence is also reflected in the palate plus subtle overtones of raisins. This is a delicate wine, dry in style with good balance and a long finish. Price: $291.00 per case

Ste. Chapelle Winemaker's Series Dry Gewurztraminer 2003,  Idaho, $5.99, From the winery: "This is one of our pair of Alsatian-styled whites. It has aromas of peaches and apricots and an unusual (at least for this variety) dryness that makes it a beautiful food wine. food affinities: This wine’s full body and fruit flavors make it ideal to pair with mildly spicy or smoked foods. It is especially nice served as an aperitif, or as a picnic wine with chilled fresh fruit and smoked cheese.13.9% alc.

Saints Gisborne Gewürztraminer 2003 - Release date: November 2003;

St Jerome Gisborne Gewürztraminer 2003 Light and fruity with lemon, spicy stonefruit and a hint of Turkish delight with white pepper and ginger on the finish and musky rose petal and stonefruit flavors lingering. A medium style that is light on entry but builds in the palate to a full rich finish. 12.5% alc. $18.95. Sue Courtney 22Aug2004.

     Winery Notes: a medium-sweet style.  The perfume is rich, laced with a touch of lavender, deliciously full flavours of ripe peaches, tropical fruit, cinnamon and honey. Spicy in its youth, with age it blossoms into a full-bloomed slightly honeyish beauty.  A perfect match for spicy or strong-flavoured food like cheese and smoked seafood. Ideal with Asian cuisine or pre-dessert.

Sakonnet Vineyards Gewurztraminer 2003,  Little Compton, Rhode Island; Its delicate aromas are reminiscent of passion fruit and honey, lychee and limes, orange blossoms and white peaches, lavender and roses. $18.95, 12% alc., 850 cases produced.

Sanderson Wines Gewurztraminer 2003, Estate grown in 2003 as the effect of frosts in late 2002 was to limit the Omarunui harvest, instead we picked the first grapes from our estate vines. Once again low volumes - only 73 dozen produced from 6.5 acres have produced a wine with a lovely oily texture, floral and lychee aromas, and a rich finish. The wine is less intense than the 2002, and will be better served alone rather than as a main course partner. Another Screwcap bottling, showing clean pure fruit characteristics and no risk of cork taint. The entire production was sold to our agents in Japan.900 bottles made. Sold out November 2003.First release October 2003. Drink now to 2006.

Scheid Vineyards 2003 Gewurztraminer, In the forefront of our Gewürztraminer are flavors of lychee and rose, with a touch of spice. It is a smooth wine which leaves the palate with a crisp, clean finish. $14.00 Each

Snoqualmie Vineyards "Naked Gewurztraminer", Prosser, Wash.,, the "naked" refers to the fact that the Gewurztraminer is made from certified organic grapes (but the vineyard is not yet certified organic). A wine from 100% certified organically grown grapes, and "Nearly Naked Riesling", with grapes sourced from an organically farmed vineyard in the process of certification ...available only at the winery. 

Soljans Estate Dessert Gewurztraminer 2003 - This wine displays aromas of passion fruit and frangipani, with an underlying stone fruit influence. These strong tropical notes are enriched by an added silkiness resulting from the retained fruit sweetness. Beautifully balanced, the finish is underpinned with a streak of refreshing acidity, allowing the penetrating medley of flavours to linger. 11% alc., $16.50 Made for current consumption.

     Note: Frangipani or Plumeria also known as the Lei flower, is native to warm tropical areas of the Pacific Islands, Caribbean, South America and Mexico. They can grow to be large shrubs or even small trees in mild areas of the U.S. In tropical regions, Plumeria may reach a height of 30' to 40' and half as wide. Their widely spaced thick succulent branches are round or pointed, and have long leather, fleshy leaves in clusters near the branch tips. Source

Spy Valley Wines Gewurztraminer 2003 - Vineyard Notes: Blair Gibbs The cold spring did no favours to flowering and bunch set in the Gewurztraminer. The upside to a small crop is it's easier to manage, ripens early and easily and is easier to keep disease free. The block was split harvested to expand the flavour components and processed immediately upon receival. Winemakers Comments:  Ant Mackenzie - After picking and pressing, the individual parcels were tank fermented at warm temperatures. At the end of fermentation the wines were racked off the yeast lees and aged for four months prior to blending and bottling. Tasting Notes Ant Mackenzie; Colour: Pale Straw, Bouquet: Powerfully aromatic especially in the rose petal and spicy coriander notes. Palate: Pure and focused with aromatics carrying through to the palate in a complimentary way. The finish is well rounded and dry.

Standing Stone Vineyards 2003 Finger Lakes (NY) Gewurztraminer A powerful floral nose gives way to rich honeyed notes. Lychee flavors dominate the palate with a strong, round mouthfeel to fill out the mid-palate. The finish is spicy and lingers with a floral lift. $20.99; 13.7% alc. 
Wine Spectator Rating for Gewurztraminer 2000: 88
Wine Spectator rating for Gewurztraminer 2001: 89
Wine Spectator Rating for Gewurztraminer 2002: 88

Stonecroft Gewürztraminer 2003 Harvested from extremely low yields of about a 1/4 tonne per hectare from 20-year old vines, this is outstanding, as it to be expected. Straw gold with bright hues, it's fairly subtle in its entry then explodes with flavors on the palate to reveal ripe spicy lychee juice. It’s rich and luscious as well as being completely dry and is very long on the palate, gently fading away with time. This wine was barrel fermented in old barrels, as Alan didn't have a tank small enough to handle the small quantity of fruit. 13% alc. $25. Sue Courtney 29Feb2004.

      Winery Notes: Bright light lemon/gold in colour, this wine was totally barrel fermented (dry) in French oak. Aromas of rose petals and vanilla flow onto a weighty palate with a slightly oily/creamy texture. Lychees and Turkish delight give way to a fine lingering clean spice of great persistence . Very Alsace in style. Cropped at approximately 0.25 t/a, 20yr vines.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Gewürztraminer 2003, $16.95 CDN, Varietal aromas and flavors include roses, lilacs, lychee, and spices. A honeyed introduction with a lover's bite. Gewurztraminer is perfect for festivities of ethnic flavours and romantic interplay.

*(2)Sutter Home Gewürztraminer 2003 -13.2% alc., PS $5.99 111504 PS124 $5.99 111904

Thomas Fogarty 2003 Gewurztraminer, Review: Floral, with honeysuckle aromas. Appealing flavors of lime, grapefruit, peach, orange and honey. Slightly earthy.

Torlesse Waipara Gewurztraminer 2003, Gewurztraminer is an early variety, this allows the grape flavours plenty of time to ripen producing a full-flavoured wine, with summer scents and floral

*Valckenberg 2003 Pfalz, Germany, 11.5% alc.

Van Roekel Vineyards 2003 Gewurztraminer, Temecula, California, Estate Bottled

Ventana Vineyards 2003 Gewurztraminer, Appellation: Arroyo Seco, Monterey, Release: June 2001, First Vintage: 1982, Alcohol: 13%, RETAIL: $12.00 TASTING NOTES: Classic lychee Nut and accurate floral components charm the nose and are perfect companions to foods of aromatic nature, such as stir fry, many Asian dishes, and curries, etc. On the palate this wine follows through with exquisite "Gewurz" spicy flavors that linger - it is a full and rich wine with a balance between sweetness and acidity tilting toward the acid side.

Vinedos y Crania's del Alto Aragon Gewurztraminer Somontano Enate 2003, $18

Whitehaven Wine Company SVR (Single Vineyard Reserve) Gewurztraminer 2003, $21.70, Full bodied wine, with a rich texture, low acidity and off-dry finish. Harvest Date: The fruit was harvested on the 13th April, and came from the Two Ponds Vineyard of Prue Wisheart. Tasting Notes: Colour / Appearance: Pale gold. Aroma / Bouquet: Aromatic cloves, rose petal and Turkish delight. Palate: Full bodied wine, with a rich texture, low acidity and off-dry finish. 13.5% alc. Suggested Food Match: The 2003 Gewürztraminer is well suited for Asian dishes, game poultry and after dinner cheeseboards. Try with honey basted smoked salmon.

Villa Maria East Coast Gewürztraminer 2003 (sc) Fragrantly scented, off dry, humming with white pepper and ginger atop juicy nectarine. Beautifully balanced, almost luscious, fresh, flavorsome and lively - great to drink on its own or to match to lightly spiced, strong flavored foods. A blend of Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Marlborough grapes. 13.5% alc. $17. Sue Courtney 5Jul2004.

William Hill Central Otago Gewürztraminer 2003 (sc) Sweetly fragrant with spicy and floral scents reminding me of musky English roses, peppery carnations and the winter daphne, the taste continues the typically varietal theme with lychee juice, lemon/mandarin zest and Turkish delight on a warm oily texture. beautifully balanced throughout with a rich finish and a lingering aftertaste with a tickle of ginger, it is off dry and mildly delicate. 6 g/L residual sugar. 12.5% alc. $23. Sue Courtney 7Aug2004. 

     Winery Notes: Winemaker/Viticulturist David Grant Harvest date Hand picked and sorted from the 26th March – 4th April 2003 Fermentation and oenological treatment. The Gewurztraminer grapes were destemmed and crushed, then pressed off their skins into stainless steel fermenters. Fermentation was with specific yeasts selected to optimize the characteristics of the fruit. Fermentation was stopped to retain a residual sugar level of around 6 grams per litre. Winemakers tasting notes. Harvested at an average of 23 brix, the wine is made in an off-dry style, with a long, slow, cool fermentation intended to maximize fruit flavours and bouquet. At bottling the pH was 3.34, TA 5.7 grams per litre, and residual sugar 5.8 grams per litre. Excitingly spicy and floral on the nose, with a lychee and tropical fruit palate, this wine is superb easy drinking now and will continue to improve over time. Awards Bronze Medal Bragato Wine Awards 2004 Silver Medal Home & Entertaining Magazine June/July issue 2004 Bronze Medal NZ Wine Society Royal Easter Wine Show 2004

Waipara Hills Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2003 (sc) Pale colored, subtle on the nose at first, it improves as it sits in the glass to reveal apples and subtle cloves. A rich oily textured wine with the lanolin oily character of a Margaret Merrill rose, it's rich and spicy, full of rose flavored Turkish delight, powerful, full-bodied and long with more spice on the zesty ripe finish. Apple flavors linger throughout. Sue Courtney 16Nov2003.
Light gold and slightly oily in appearance. Rose petal & spice on nose, a twist of fresh lemon, lime, rose petals, violets, cloves and something almost like anise / black jelly bean in the palate, then ginger on the pungently spicy and long, sweet fruited finish with a wonderfully floral, candied violet aftertaste. Reasonably dry with ripe fruit sweetness. 13.5% alc. $21.95. Sue Courtney 31Mar2004.
Rich & full on the nose, the potent aroma is the seductive foreplay for the powerful concentrated flavors ahead. It is rich and lush with five-spice, cloves, white pepper, musk, Turkish delight, sweet orange and ginger leading to an off dry finish with lovely balance, concentration & length. Drinking beautifully now and tasting drier than the residual sugar suggests. 15 g/l residual sugar. 13.5% alc. $22. Sue Courtney 4Aug2004. $16 bottle

Windsor Vineyards Gewürztraminer 2003, Alexander Valley. Note: since early 2000 under the umbrella of Beringer Blass Wine Estates.