TN for 2008 Alsace Anyone?

Just received notice on the Albert Mann 2008 wines, but haven't had a chance to taste (and won't before buying). Thought I'd ask if anyone has had the chance, although it is pretty early days for this vintage. Haven't seen any notes out there yet.

Interested particularly in the Pinot Gris Furstentum Grand Cru, Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru, and Gewurztraminer Furstentum Grand Cru.

[David M. Bueker]

I've heard that 2007 is a top vintage in Alsace for at least Riesling, but nothing so far on '08. Sorry.

http://www.justerinis.com/Wines/DiscoverTheRegion.aspx?winePageId=29&wineClassId=1&listId=73

They are comparing it to the 2007 but more classic with better acidity. We shall see....

[David M. Bueker]

Well if we consider the weather patterns for the nearby Pfalz I can see the "better acidity" comment, but would also expect a degree of irregularity in 2008 that may not have happened in 2007.

Well if we consider the weather patterns for the nearby Pfalz I can see the "better acidity" comment, but would also expect a degree of irregularity in 2008 that may not have happened in 2007.

So you feel that paying attention to the German information might lead to a pfalz sense of security.....

Well if we consider the weather patterns for the nearby Pfalz I can see the "better acidity" comment, but would also expect a degree of irregularity in 2008 that may not have happened in 2007.

So you feel that paying attention to the German information might lead to a pfalz sense of security.....

You must have been waiting for just the right tiime for that one.
And you got it.
Well done!

There are some things that are really hard to resist....

[David M. Bueker]

Well if we consider the weather patterns for the nearby Pfalz I can see the "better acidity" comment, but would also expect a degree of irregularity in 2008 that may not have happened in 2007.

So you feel that paying attention to the German information might lead to a pfalz sense of security.....

Potentially, as much depends on palatinate variation.

So you feel that paying attention to the German information might lead to a pfalz sense of security.....

Potentially, as much depends on palatinate variation.

Surely such puns never westphalia.

Ahr, ahr, ahr, David. Not baden at all - quite nahe-ice as a matter fo fact. But if you'll let me be franken with you, perhaps not up to the very highest standard....

[David M. Bueker]

Ahr, ahr, ahr, David. Not baden at all - quite nahe-ice as a matter fo fact. But if you'll let me be franken with you, perhaps not up to the very highest standard....

You will ruwer the day you ever started this with me.

Ahr, ahr, ahr, David. Not baden at all - quite nahe-ice as a matter fo fact. But if you'll let me be franken with you, perhaps not up to the very highest standard....

You will ruwer the day you ever started this with me.

You just keep on trocken, don't you?

i was going to join in on the punning, but then I thought ...Nahe, I won't.
Just too Prum and proper I guess.

No puns, nothing but my take on the year as a whole in Alsace: a good year, not as powerful as, say, 2005, or as lively as, say, 2007. Not very much VT or SGN produced, but the quality is good. The gap between serious growers and the rest is considerable; Colmar got 3 inches of rain on the 13th September and grey rot started spreading, therefor many of the smaller/less experienced/less caring vintners harvested too early, which particularly hurt the rieslings. My advice would - as always - be to stay with the big guns but even then choose with care. You would probably be safer to pick Grand Crus (especially Gewurz and Riesling) from 2008 and buy your lesser wines (e g Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner) from another year.

Greetings from Sweden / Fredrik L

[David M. Bueker]

Ahr, ahr, ahr, David. Not baden at all - quite nahe-ice as a matter fo fact. But if you'll let me be franken with you, perhaps not up to the very highest standard....

You will ruwer the day you ever started this with me.

You just keep on trocken, don't you?

what a lange gold kap strange trip it's been.

I had the entry level Z-H Riesling, PG, and GW Wed night. The PG was really awkward, unpleasant to me. The others were acceptable for the low end, but saying nothing to me about vintage.

Thanks, Bernard. Too early to tbe seeing many tasting notes as the wine just haven't been out there long.

Not even anything on Cellar Tracker yet, and some of those guys are popping corks as the cases come off the truck!

Hate taking a flyer on wine, but with a limited market supply, sometimes you have to or the wines will all be gone. I may try to organize a tasting - split some bottles among interested parties, taste them and then buy.

[David M. Bueker]

Bill,

I just listened to an interview with Etienne Hugel & he was lauding the pair of "great" vintages 2007/2008. Take it for what it's worth, but he also advised people to "skip 2006."

Etienne is a good guy, but I fear he might fall victim to the typical French syndrome of believing the best vintage is the one you have for sale right now. He's been pretty objective when I've met him and chatted about the wines, though, so what he says is encouraging.