{"title":"Alsace Wine","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlsace sits on France's eastern border with Germany, and its wines reflect that dual heritage more than any other French region, labelled by grape variety rather than village in the German tradition while remaining unmistakably French in style. The Vosges Mountains shield the region from Atlantic rain, giving it one of France's driest, sunniest climates and allowing grapes like Gewurztraminer and Riesling to ripen fully while keeping their aromatic intensity. Alsace also produces Cremant d'Alsace, a traditional-method sparkling wine that offers real quality at a fraction of Champagne's price. For Gewurztraminer specifically, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/gewurztraminer\"\u003eGewurztraminer\u003c\/a\u003e covers examples from beyond Alsace, and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/riesling\"\u003eRiesling\u003c\/a\u003e is worth a look for the region's other aromatic mainstay.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"lucien-albrecht-cremant-dalsace","title":"Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace NV","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLucien Albrecht Crémant d'Alsace\u003c\/strong\u003e was one of the first wines to prove Alsace could do sparkling as seriously as Champagne, made in the traditional method by a producer who helped pioneer the whole category back in 1971. Built from 100% Pinot Blanc, it shows fine, persistent bubbles and a nose of fresh apple, peach and apricot, with a touch of creaminess on the finish. Proper method, modest price: smart buying for something with this much polish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the winery says\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade by Lucien Albrecht in Alsace from 100% Pinot Blanc, this Crémant is produced using the traditional method, with a secondary fermentation in bottle that builds its fine, persistent mousse. It shows a pale yellow colour with floral, fruity aromas of apple, peach and apricot, developing into a fruity, lively palate with good maturity. Best served well chilled, it's an easy match for canapés, pan-seared scallops or as a celebratory aperitif on its own.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the experts say\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanter, 92\/100\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Clean, light but aromatic nose - lemon, grapefruit, with a slight yeasty character. Vigorous ripe fruit flavours mingle within a gently creamy texture, balanced by crisp acidity and fine bubbles on the long, citrusy finish.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blanc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182019928431,"sku":"100377","price":209.94,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/LucienAlbrechtCremantd_AlsaceNV.jpg?v=1783975521"},{"product_id":"domaine-rene-mure-cremant-dalsace-brut","title":"Domaine Rene Mure Cremant d'Alsace Brut NV","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDomaine Rene Mure Cremant d'Alsace Brut\u003c\/strong\u003e is a traditional method sparkling wine from the Muré family estate in Rouffach, in the heart of Alsace. Made from organically farmed Pinot Blanc, Pinot Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and Riesling grown on limestone rich soils, it undergoes a second fermentation in bottle before spending time ageing on its lees. The result is a wine with a delicate mousse and a persistent ring of bubbles, its open nose showing apple, vanilla, cinnamon and linden. On the palate it is round and easy to drink, with a fresh, long finish that makes it a natural choice as an aperitif. Hand picked and dosed brut, it reflects both the Muré family's organic farming practices and the elegant character typical of Crémant d'Alsace.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to Maison Muré, this Crémant is crafted using the traditional method, with fine bubbles developed through a second fermentation in the bottle. The estate describes the blend as drawing on grapes cultivated organically around Rouffach, on limestone dominant soils suited to producing fine, elegant base wines for sparkling production. They note the wine's aromas of apple, vanilla, cinnamon and linden, along with a round, easy drinking palate and a fresh finish, positioning it as an ideal aperitif with ageing potential through to 2029.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWine Enthusiast's Aleks Zecevic scored this wine 91 points, writing: \"This shows nice roundness, with a gentle mousse and lovely flavors of white raspberry, lemon zest, gingerbread and floral spice. It is fresh and vibrant, with a long, linear finish.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dhall \u0026 Nash","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182028153199,"sku":"100615","price":227.94,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/DomaineReneMureCremantd_AlsaceBrutNV.jpg?v=1783919314"}],"url":"https:\/\/stolencellar.co.nz\/collections\/alsace-wine.oembed","provider":"Stolen Cellar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}