2005 Gewurztraminer Reserve Personelle

The Faller 2005 Gewurztraminer Reserve Personnelle – from younger vines in the Clos des Capucins” – smells of sweet pea, bacon fat, and rose, coats the palate in oily, pungently spicy, smoky peach and litchi fruit, and finishes with handsome length. It can be enjoyed and employed over the next several years, bearing in mind its hint of sweetness and no lack of genuine refreshment. (The 2004 was drier, but much less attractively ripe or sensual.) The dynamic trio of Fallers continues to bottle some of France’s (hardly just Alsace’s) richest and most flamboyant wines. Beginning with 2005, all of their vineyards are being biodynamically farmed. Laurence Faller finds their 2005s in general “more focused and clear” (this was especially true of Riesling) despite their often prominent botrytis component, and the 2004s richer. I suppose it goes without saying, but one has to carefully scrutinize each Weinbach label, so numerous are the cuvees. And as wonderful as is the distinctiveness exhibited by the vast majority of wines here, even a geek like yours truly could be forgiven for asking whether somewhat fewer different bottlings might benefit consumers as well as journalists! Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802