NV Lucien Albrecht Cremate D'Alsace Brut Rose

While Albrecht's Pinot Blanc Cremant d'Alsace (a genre Lucien Albrecht was prominent in legally codifying) is delicious, it is a bit simple to count as a top value at $24, whereas their non-vintage Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rose - a pure Pinot Noir - is more intriguing and distinctive. Along with strawberry and red raspberry fruit suggestions that are enhanced by the wine's discreet hint of sweetness, there are saline, meaty, and herbal notes to add interest to both the nose and a lush palate, and the hints of salinity and bitterness in the finish make for an invigorating complement to the wine's prominent fruit. This comes in a light-sensitive clear bottle, and I could identify no lot number, so make sure that whoever sells you a bottle will take responsibility for freshness and proper storage. As a group, Albrecht's wines were delightfully user-friendly, although some of them - like so many wines of Alsace nowadays - lacked the concentration or distinctiveness to render them excellent values, given starting prices of close to $20. Importer: Pasternak Wine Imports, Harrison, NY; tel. (914) 630-8214