G’wzr

G’wzr (codename Thunder-Monkey) is what you do when you can’t find a Gewurztraminer that you like. You just grow your own. That’s legal, now, in Oregon. And, as it turns out, that is a good thing.

Gewurztraminer is one of the most aromatic of the aromatic white wine varieties that also include Riesling and Viognier. The unadulterated aromas of Gewurztraminer are unrivaled and we simply could deny ourselves no longer. It was the Spring of 2013 when Ernie planted 25 vines that would bare our fruit. One fell prey to a gopher. Undeterred, he pressed on – without said gopher.

This wine was made in the most minimalist way possible. We hand harvested the clusters, which is harder than any other variety due to the exceeding short stem. The clusters were then eased into our press and gently encouraged to “Give it up!” And they did. The juice was settled overnight and then gently flowed into an inert fermentation vessel where a fortnight of flocculation began forthwith.

Not every winery does it, but if you start wandering around the Willamette valley during harvest time you may get the opportunity to discover a winemaker’s experiment. Something fermenting that is not quite ready for prime time, but is showing great promise. In our case, the little fermentation vessel under the lab table made lab work an aromatic pleasure!

2017

Tasting Notes: Satin corn silk leads you down the road less traveled. Plum blossom, honeysuckle, Easter lily and a plethora of heady wildflower aromas converge and evolve taking you to full palate immersion. Concentrated flavors and textures linger effortlessly and are balanced by firm acidity and a sweet kiss of Viognier.

Culinary Inclinations: A perfect summer aperitif wine for chilled seafood selections including sushi with tempura vegetables and the ever present grilled zucchini. And take the cheeses so blue, to entertain the little grey cells, too!

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

2016

Tasting Notes: Shimmering Mother of Pearl conjures a clairvoyant pause as your olfactory senses pierce a gilded veil revealing a harmonious and enveloping aura of intoxicating honeysuckle, candied ginger, Star Fruit, tamarind, quince paste and cherry blossom – Whew! Easy on the palate with a light touch, yet delivering persistently balanced textures vacillating between ying and yang, culminating in an impressively pure and most idyllic happy ending.

Culinary Inclinations: Hardwood smoke infused Tuna or Salmon belly sushi accoutramised with pickled ginger and thoughts of wasabi. If at all possible, go for the Uni. For the more adventurous, try Fugu.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

Email: Cuvee@amalierobert.com