1999 Rene Mure Gewurztraminer

Rene Mure owns the Clos St Landelin, one of the greatest and best located vineyards in Alsace. The wines are always a success, even in off vintages. Rene's winemaking tends to result in dry but rich wines of great intensity and ageing potential.This remarkable company owns 22 hectares of vineyards and purchases grapes from a further 25 hectares in the Rouffach and Westhalten area. The Clos St Landelin is within the Grand Cru Vorbourg and covers 15 hectares. There are a further 5 hectares of Grand Cru Vorbourg and 2 hectares of Cotes de Rouffach. A small plot has also been planted in the Zinkoepfle vineyard above Westhalten. All the great Alsace varietals are planted in varying proportions.The wines are made by Rene Mure personally, with great care and dedication. Enormous strides in quality have been made over the past few years.He feels that his wines should express their "terroir" more than the varietal. They are indeed special. Coming from old vines in a poor calcerous clay soil, yields are very low. At least half the vineyard is under biological cultivation. (The other half is too steep). Green harvesting is also practiced. In the cellar a pneumatic press is used and fermentation is at a controlled temperature.Since 1994 Rene has been keeping his wines on their lees, with regular "batonnage", until they are bottled. This practice has contributed to putting Mure in the top league of the Alsace producers.The result is a range of remarkable wines showing wonderful complex fruit flavours, but also great power and a gorgeous texture. These are food wines "par excellence". Apart from the late harvest wines, they are all bone dry with an excellent vibrant acidity, ideal for long ageing.Furthermore the pricing in relation to the quality is very reasonable. The Mure wines are sure to gain more recognition. Already 12 Michelin "3 Star" restaurants in France and abroad carry their wines.
This is a much more restrained, elegant style of Gewurztraminer yet still retains very distinct varietal character. Bright straw colour. The nose is restrained yet still perfumed with aroma of lychee & spice. Excellent palate length with lychee, apple and spice flavours. Soft acid finish. This is a classic Rene Mure Gewurztraminer a great food wine.
Cellar 1-2 years (2002-2003).
Alc/Vol 12.5%

RATING: 89/100

VALUE: XXX/5