Spittoon: We Spit So You Can Swallow
Lunch opened with a delicious courgette soup, fresh, crisp flavours that ended with a underlying edge of curry, nicely done. No wine with this course but being seated near a window (lending an enchanting diffused light to the table) a delightful photo resulted. So forgive my indulgance for posting here rather than, as usual, on SpittoonExtra.
The first Paul Zinck wine – Pinot Gris Prestige 2007, proved an absolute delight with a fine, thick, slice of Foie Gras. The course only let down by being served with two toasted slices of white processed bread rather than something more artisanal like the homemade bread in the basket..
Paul Zinck offer three ranges. The more basic, introductory wines, are labelled as Terrior with Prestige being the next rung up before hitting the Grand Cru range. The vintage of this PG, 2007, is rather young; without exception all the wine makers and producers we met and visited acclaimed 2007 as one of the very best vintages in Alsace for many, many a-year. Well worth storing regardless of grape variety.
Wine Tasting Note: Paul Zinck Pinot Gris Prestige, 2007, Alsace, France.[More: Adegga / Snooth] Alcohol 13%.
Andrew BarrowScribblings Rating – 90/100 [ out of 5]
Zinck’s Prestige range also supplied the Riesling, a delightful herb-tinged wine, that accompanied the Dorand, main dish, beautifully. Not sure it was such a match with the, unusually sweet, sauerkraut but one soldiers on…
Wine Tasting Note: Paul Zinck Riesling Prestige, 2006, Alsace, France.[More: Adegga / Snooth]
Andrew BarrowScribblings Rating – 86/100 [ out of 5]
On to the winery proper for a more formal tasting the highlights being:
Wine Tasting Note: Paul Zinck Pinot Blanc Prestige, 2007, Alsace, France.[More: Adegga / Snooth]
Harvested a little later than the norm to capture a little “extra fruit” (by which they mean ripeness at the expense of acidity). Impression of sweetness although actually dry. A touch short, too young, not too heavy in the mouth. Alcohol 12%.
Andrew BarrowScribblings Rating – 86/100 [ out of 5]
Wine Tasting Note: Paul Zinck Riesling Grand Cru Eichberg, 2005, Eichberg, Alsace, France.[More: Adegga / Snooth]
A little age on this bottle “best vintage for beginning to drink now” but still worthy of keeping. A touch of minerality, pin sharp razor acidity, pineapple, apple skins and grapefruit complexity. Alcohol 13%.
Andrew BarrowScribblings Rating – 92/100 [ out of 5]
Wine Tasting Note: Paul Zinck Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Goldert, 2007, Alsace, France.[More: Adegga / Snooth]
As with all Grand Cru holdings (think top 51 hill side vineyards) holdings are small, in this case Zinck has vines covering just 2 hectares. A near perfect balance, intensity of pin-point acidity and a vibrancy of restrained flavours. At once floral and mineral. Lovely cleansing acidity. Alcohol 13%.
Andrew BarrowScribblings Rating – 90/100 [ out of 5] In the UK the wines of Paul Zinc can be found at Swig, Elis of Richmond and Laithwaites. The scores are a little low; give the wines some cellar age...
A selection of photographs from Eguisheim are on SpittoonExtra.
We Spit... So You Can Swallow
The lighting in these photos is tremendous. I don’t as much forgive your indulgence as I welcome it more often.
Well thanks Dylan, I shall have to lay some more indulgences out for all to see!