Le Clos du Château d’Isenbourg - Alsace

Le Clos du Château d’Isenbourg is an estate of five hectares, based in Rouffac, Alsace. They recently sent me a couple of wines to review - a white blend and a Gewurztraminer with a bit of age. Both were well-made, balanced and food-friendly.

Isenbourg Les Tourelles 2010

A blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc.

Golden sandy yellow in the glass, subtle aromas of apricot and melon fruit with a touch of peach-skin yeastiness on the nose.

Big and weighty on the palate with more ripe apricot, peach and sweet pear fruit, white flowers, some sweet exotic spice and good savoury underpinnings, some yeastiness and well-balanced tropical citrus acidity.

There is some residual sugar, but the finish is savoury and yeasty.

Rounded, harmonious and elegant.

Match with salmon, shellfish or roast pork with horseradish apple sauce.

Le Clos Chateau Isenbourg "Les Terrasses" Gewurztraminer 2008

Golden sandy-coloured in the glass; the nose is all beeswax candles and incense with a touch of old, leatherbound books - close your eyes and you could be at a Catholic High Mass.

The palate is full of sweet ripe peach fruit and fresh tropical acidity, with a waxy, mouthfilling peachy texture and sweet exotic spice.

Good underpinnings, with old-vine concentration and savouriness coming through on the finish.

Well-balanced and well-made from good fruit - a really lovely wine.

Match with goose liver pate, gravadlax or slow-roasted pork belly with apple sauce.

Other related articles
La Cave des Vignerons de Pfaffenheim - Alsace
Dopff & Irion
Alsace archive

Links
Le Clos du Château d’Isenbourg - website