Wednesday, February 8, 2012

What's in My Glass Wednesdays: 2010 Stone Cellar Gewurztraminer by Galen Glen

I've never encountered a wine from Galen Glen Winery that I haven't enjoyed.  And this is no exception.  I'm not really a huge fan of Gewurztraminer - it's definitely one of those wine varieties that you either love or hate.  For Riesling fans, it can be a bit intense.  But for wine aficionados, this kind of variety is usually stunning.  [Note to self, varieties that I've found to be "winemaker wines": Gewurztraminer, Petit Verdot, and Burgundy.]

2010 Stone Cellar Gewurztraminer by Galen Glen Winery

The Gewurz is on the left hand side... no I didn't take this picture
(Photo by Google Images)


The D-2010 Scale 
2010 Stone Cellar Gewurztraminer by Galen Glen Winery (Pennsylvania, USA)
Appearance (10 points possible): light yellow color, brilliant, clear - 10 points
Aroma/Bouquet (20 points possible): Strong floral and spicy nose!  Very intense lychee notes and ripe strawberries.  Characteristic Gewurz - very varietal. - 20 points
Taste (10 points possible):  Medium-bodied like a Gewurz should be (in my humble opinion). Front palate is strong with floral characters.  No real mid-palate (also very typical of Gewurz) with an oily, smooth mouthfeel that is fresh and clean.  - 9 points
Balance (5 points possible): In my mind, Gewurz can't be balanced.  There's always a beginning and an end... and that's about it.  It's like missing out on the middle section of book, but still enjoying it! - 4 points
Finish (5 points possible): Lingering strong finish of spice and Gardenia flowers. - 5 points
Packaging *Introduction to the D-2010 Scale*
Quality of Package (5 points possible):  Beautiful green Alsatian style bottle, traditional label, and nice closure. - 5 points
Label Marketability (10 points possible):  I really like the traditional, simple Galen Glen label.  I also like that all the bottles match.  Although, it may be difficult to spot this label in a large wine store, I think it matches the style and emphasis of this winery. - 8 points
Other (5 points possible):  There's no big extras on this bottle, so I do have to mark it down a few points, but I don't think this kind of wine should have "extras."  This is why number scores are pointless.  :) - 3 points
Total Points: 94 points
Overall Thought: Like I said, I'm not "into" Gewurz at my current age in life.  However, I drink it quite often with lots of Thai food and at receptions or banquets.  This Gewurz impressed me.  It wasn't over the top and it wasn't too subtle.  It was a perfectly acceptable in-between Gewurz.  Truly enjoyable.
Food Pairings:  This is a go-to wine for Thai food and spicy Asian or Indian cuisine.  However, I also see this with some bland, medium-aged cheeses.  
Cost: $14.00
Splurge Factor (out of 4): 1 -  Seriously - this is a good buy for this kind of quality.  Wines of this finesse deserve to be much pricier.  :)
Where to buy:  Contact the winery, Galen Glen Winery, for purchasing information.  Remember, if you are a resident of Pennsylvania, you can have wines shipped directly to your door from any in-state winery.  :)

1 comment:

  1. That's great sharing. Thanks for the link to buy. I am going to take it with my Chocolate Wines

    ReplyDelete