Delicious Alsace white wines under £20
Alsace isn't just about the grand crus - there are also plenty of delicious wines under £20 that deserve a spot in your wine rack. Here's a few to get you started.
The unique history of Alsace, to-ing and fro-ing between German and French control, has left its legacy. It’s a French region with a uniquely Teutonic feel – even the wine bottles share the distinct shape of their German cousins across the Rhine.
More than 90% of wines produced in Alsace are white, ranging from lean, mineral Riesling to perfumed, exotic Gewürztraminer. Decanter’s Jane Anson believes that Alsace should be a natural homeland for terroir-driven white wines in France.
Here are some of our top recommendations for everyday wines that won’t break the bank.
Delicious Alsace white wines under £20 :
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Credit: Ian Shaw / Alamy Stock Photo
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Trimbach, Riesling, Alsace, France, 2014
90
Perhaps most representative of Trimbach's house style, this Riesling is wonderfully dry and crisp, with green apple and citrus flavours swiftly followed by a wave of acidity. Mineral notes mingle with just a hint of stone fruit and tropical fruit on the mid-palate, leading into a long, slightly spicy finish. A great example of dry Riesling.
2014
Trimbach
Zinck, Portrait Gewürztraminer, Alsace, France, 2015
90
This wine has a glorious nose of lychee, rosewater and stone fruit. Incredibly aromatic and intense, the palate follows the nose, with a touch of sweetness balanced by the fresh acidity typical of the region. What a great wine for the money!
2015
Zinck
Jean Biecher, Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France, 2015
89
One of the largest organic producers in Alsace, Jean Biecher is also one of the oldest having been founded in 1776. This Pinot Blanc has a beeswax and baked apple nose. A typically rounded mouthfeel has some residual sugar sweetness balanced by bright acidity, with flavours of baked apple and soft, sweet spices.
2015
Jean Biecher
Dopff au Moulin, Cuvée Julien Brut, Crémant d’Alsace, Alsace, France
89
A refreshing crémant from sparkling specialist Dopff au Moulin, situated in Riquewihr, Alsace. A blend of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois gives floral, pear and white peach aromas, with a bready, yeasty top note. I was won over by the pure lemony attack that melds into soft creamy bubbles.
Dopff au MoulinCrémant d’Alsace
