As a huge fan of Gewürztraminer, I always look forward to Thanksgiving as one of the holidays where this aromatic white works best.  With huge spice, floral notes, and a crisp white nature, Gewürztraminer is one of those wines that can cut through the mix and match natures of the Thanksgiving table, and deliver.  The best examples come from Upstate New York, Washington State, and Alsace (France).  Can Gewürz Gewürztraminer put Mendocino on the map as well?

Sight:  A heavier gold with lighter edges.

Smell:  The nose is incredibly intense, with huge amounts of roses, honeysuckle, lychees, pear, and more flowers than you can count.  A slight touch of petroleum and potpourri add in.  Stone fruits get into the act with peaches and apricot.  The nose is would most easily be described as, ‘perfumed’.

Sip:  Lychee and petroleum lead off, and add in rose, geranium, and an entire floral section of a perfume store. There’s a slightly fizzy, prickliness to this body, and a brightness.  The body is round and thick.  The notes of peach and pear are being totally overwhelmed by all the floral elements.

Savor:  The end is more relaxed, with decent peach and lychee being complimented firmly by rose and other floral notes.

Gewürz Gewürztraminer is crazy floral.  This is by far the most intense floral wine I’ve run across in the five years of running this blog.  While it is true to character, and nothing in the body is out of whack other than the flavors.  While I love Gewürztraminer, this is a little too intense for most family’s Thanksgiving tables.  If you love an unbelievably floral wine, then Gewürz Gewürztraminer could be a great choice,  but most should look to another Gewürz for the same touch of floral.

Verdict:  Floral, Rose, Potpourri, Floral, Lychee
Rating: 75
Price: $10
Mendocino County, California

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