2019 Gustave Lorentz Gewurztraminer Reserve Alsace 750 ml

The aromatic white wines from France’s Alsace region tend to fly under the radar, which is the only reason why we were able to secure this full-bodied, highly expressive, mineral-laden Gewürztraminer Réserve from one of the region’s most historic wineries—for a very non- réserve price. 

There’s a reason Gustave Lorentz’s Gewürztraminers have been longtime favorites of the Wine Advocate, where they have been described as “delicate food wines with an impressive purity and piquancy.” Their latest is a complex white that holds its own against intensely spiced yellow curry, ginger duck, or Singapore noodles with barbecue pork—the dinner we can’t stop dreaming about after we devoured it alongside this 2019 Réserve. 

Alsatian Gewürztraminer with this much versatility can rarely be found for under $50, let alone $28, but with all its spicy character and steely acidity, it is hands down the best Gewürztraminer example we've come across in recent memory. At any price point.

As one of the four Grand Cru grapes of Alsace, this is a classic example of reserve Gewürztraminer from its most ideal growing region. A golden-brass hue hints at the rich viscosity to come, while an aromatic cornucopia comes to life with yellow flowers, sun-kissed lemon, ripe nectarine, and sage. 

Gewürztraminer literally means "spicy," and the exuberance of this Gustave Lorentz Réserve lives up to its etymology. The luxurious palate balances itself with mouthwatering acidity, even as it cascades with lemon preserves, herbs, and just a kiss of juicy fruit sweetness before finishing wonderfully pure and dry. 

Any fan of cellar-worthy Riesling or Pinot Gris will flip for this 2019 Gewürztraminer, which makes clear why this variety is one of Alsace’s famed noble grapes—a transcendent, resolutely classic wine that serious sommeliers-in-training fervently commit to memory. It’s a surprisingly rare wine grape with only about 20,000 acres planted to Gewürztraminer worldwide, making this reserve bottling a collector’s victory for common sense.

A classic with no equal, if your cellar is without a Gewürztraminer, this is the one to buy by the case.